THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 
OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 
PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


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At  the  Battle  of  Antietara. 

Pat-e  143. 


^^ 


FIGHTING    JOE ; 


OB, 


THE  FORTUNES  OF  A  STAFF  OFFICER. 


c^iorji  ,of  tto:^  ©nai  ^gtltllmx. 


BY 


OLIVER   OPTIC, 


ACTHOR  OF  "  THE  SOLDIER  BOT,"  "  THE  SAILOR  EOT,"  "  THE  TOCXG  LIEUTE^"A^•T," 

"  TUE  YANKEE  MIDDY,"  "  RICH  AND  HUMBLE,"  "  IN  SCHOOL  AND  OCT," 

"  WATCU  AND  WAIT,"  "  WORK  AND  WIN,"  '*  THE  EIVEKDALE 

STOKY  BOOKS,"  "  THE  BOAT  CLCB,"  ETC. 


BOSTON: 
LEE    AND    SHEPARD, 

SUCCESSORS  TO   PHILLIPS,   SAMPSON  <fc  CO. 

1866. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  j'ear  1865,  by 

WILLIAM    T.    ADAMS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Districi  of  Massachusetts. 


ELECTROTYPED    AT    THE 

Boston    stereotype    Foundry , 
Ho.  4  Spriug  Lane. 


TO 


F.  ORMOXD  J.  S.  BAZIN 


This   Book 


IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED, 


BY    HIS    FRIEND 

WILLIAM    T.   ADAMS 


602656 


THE  ARMY  AND  NAVY  STORIES. 

In   Six  Volixnaes. 

BY    OLIVER    OPTIC. 


I. 

THE   SOLIDIEU   130Y; 

Or,  ToiXL   Soixiers  in  the  -A^rmy. 

II. 
THE   ISJLIEOH   BOY; 

Or,  Jack  Somers  in  tlie  IvTavy. 

III. 
the:  YO"crxo  I^IEXJTEIX AJVT  ; 

Or,  Th.e  -A-dventnres  of  an  J^rmy  Officer. 
A  SEQUEL  TO  "THE  SOLDIEE  BOY." 

IV. 
THE  YAyi^EE   3HI>r>Y; 

Or,  Tlie  J^dventTores  of  a  !N'a-^al  Officer. 
A  SEQUEL  TO  "THE  SAILOR  BOY." 

V. 
EIOHTrXO   JOE  5 

Or,  The  IT'ortiones  of  a  Staif  Officer. 
A   SEQUEL  TO  "THE  YOUXG  LIEUTEXAN'T." 

VI. 
BR^YE   OEI>   SJ^.ET; 

Or,  Xiife  on  th.e  Quarter  Deck. 

A  SEQUEL  TO  "THE  YAXKEE  MIDDY." 

(In  Preparation.) 

(4) 


PREFACE. 


This. volume,  the  fifth  of  "The  Army  and  Navy  Stories,"  is 
not  a  biography  of  the  distinguished  soldier  -whose  sobriquet  in  the 
army  has  been  chosen  as  its  principal  title,  though  the  prominent 
incidents  of  his  military  career  are  noticed  in  its  pages.  The 
■writer  offers  his  humble  tribute  of  admiration  to  the  energetic  and 
devoted  general  who  will  be  recognized  under  the  appellation 
given  to  this  work;  but  perhaps  the  object  of  the  volume  may 
be  better  represented  by  the  second  title.  It  follows  Tom 
Somers,  "The  Soldier  Boy"  and  "The  Young  Lieutenant," 
in  his  brilliant  and  daring  career  as  a  staff  officer,  through  some 
of  the  most  stormy  and  trying  scenes  of  the  late  war. 

As  in  the  volumes  of  the  series  which  have  preceded  it,  the  best 
sources  of  information  upon  military  events  have  been  carefully 
consulted ;  and  to  the  extent  to  which  the  book  is  properly  his- 
torical, it  is  intended  to  be  faithful  in  its  delineations.  But  the 
work  is  more  correctly  a  record  of  personal  adventure,  no  more 
complicated,  daring,  and  romantic  than  may  be  found  in  the 
experience  of  many,  who,  through  trial  and  tribulation,  through 
victory  and  defeat,  have  passed  from  the  inception  to  the  gigantic 
failure  of  this  gigantic  rebellion. 

1*  (5) 


6  PREFACE. 

More  earnest  than  any  other  purpose  in  the  production  of  the 
book,  it  has  been  the  object  of  the  writer  to  exhibit  a  character 
in  his  hero  worthy  the  imitation  of  the  boy  and  the  man  who  may 
read  it ;  and  if  it  does  not  inculcate  a  lofty  patriotism,  and  a  noble 
and  Christian  morality,  it  will  have  failed  of  the  highest  aim  of 
the  author. 

"With  the  still  stronger  expression  of  gratitude  which  the  in- 
creasing favor  bestowed  upon  previous  efforts  demands  of  me,  I 
pass  the  fifth  volume  of  the  series  into  the  hands  of  my  indulgent 
friends,  hoping  that  it  will  not  fall  short  of  their  reasonable 
expectations. 

WILLIAM   T.   ADAMS. 

Haerison  Squaee,  Mass.,  December  12,  1865. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAOE 

I.  A  FiGHTOiTG  Max il 

II.  A  Skirmish  on  the  Koad 22 

III.  Fighting  Joe 33 

IV.  Miss  :aLvuD  Hasbrouk .41 

V.  The  Boot  on  One  Leg 55 

YI.    The  Boot  on  the  Other  Leg G6 

VII.    South  Mountain 77 

VIII.  Before  the  Great  Battle.        ...      •     ...     88 

IX.    Between  the  Pickets 98 

X.    Major  Riggleston loa 

XI.    Shot  in  the  Head 120 

XII.    The  CoyNCiL  of  Officers .      .1.31 

XIII.  The  Battle  of  Antietam 141 

XIV.  The  Battle  on  the  Eight 1.51 

XV.    After  the  Battle 101 

XVI.    The  Mystery  expl.vined 171 

XVII.    Down  in  Tennessee isi 

XVIII.    The  Guerillas  at  Supper JOi 

XIX.    Tippy  the  Scout 202 

XX.    Skinley  the  Texan 213 

XXI.    The  House  of  the  Union  M^vn 223 

(7) 


8  CONTESTS. 

XXn.    The  Greenback  Train 254 

XXIII.  The  Battle  in  the  Clouds 244 

XXIV.  Peach-Tree  Creek 254 

XXY.    The  Monkey  and  the  Cat's  Paw 264 

XXYI.    Supper  for  Seven 274 

XXVII.  The  Cats's  Paw  too  sharp  for  the  Monkey.    .      .  284 

XXVIII.    The  Blood-Hounds  on  the  Track 294 

XXIX.    The  Pilgrimage  to  the  Sea 303 

XXX.    Major  S03iers  and  Friends 314 


FIGHTING   JOE. 


m 


FIGHTING    JOE; 

OB, 

THE   FOETUNES  OF  A   STAFF  OFFICER, 


CHAPTER    I 


A   FIGHTING  MAN. 


(^^(^V^'^^  ELL,  Alick,  I  don't  know  where  I  am," 
said  Captain  Thomas  Somers,  of  the  staff 
of  the  major  general  commanding  the  first 
army  corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then  on  its 
march  to  repel  the  invasion  of  Maryland,  which  had 
been  attempted  by  the  victorious  rebels  under  -  General 
Lee. 

"  "Well,  massa,  Fm  sure  I  don't  know,"  replied  Alick, 
his  colored  servant.  "  If  you  was  down  'bout  Peters- 
burg, I  reckon  I'd  know  all  'bout  it." 

"  We  must  find  out  very  soon,"  added  Captain  Somers, 
as  he  reined  in  his  horse  at  a  point  where  two  roads 
branched  off,  one  to  the  north-west  and  the  other  to  the 
south-west.  • 

(11) 


12  FIGHTISG    JOE,    OR 

"  Day  ain't  no  house  'bout  here,  massa." 

"  I  don't  want  to  lose  my  way,  for  I  have  no  time  to 
spare." 

"  Dar's  somebody  comin'  up  behind,  massa,"  said 
Alick,  who  first  heard  the  sounds  of  horses'  feet  ap- 
proaching in  the  direction  from  w^hich  they  had  just 
come. 

Captain  Somers,  after  receiving  the  agreeable  intelli- 
gence of  his  appointment  on  the  staff  of  the  general,  in 
whose  division  he  had  served  on  the  Peninsula,  hastened 
to  Washington  to  report  for  duty.  He  had  hardly  time 
to  visit  his  friends,  and  Was  obliged  to  content  himself 
with  a  short  call  on  Miss  Lilian  Ashford,  though  he  had 
an  invitation  to  spend  the  evening  with  the  family,  ex- 
tended for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the  young  gentleman 
to  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  the  beautiful  girl's 
grandmother ! 

Lilian's  father's  mother  was  certainly  a  very  estimable 
old  lady,  and  her  granddaughter  loved  and  reverenced 
her  with  a  fervor  which  was  almost  enthusiastic.  It 
was  quite  natural,  therefore,  that  she  should  wish  Cap- 
tain Somers,  —  for  whom  she  had  knit  a  pair  of  socks, 
which  had  been  no  small  portion  of  his  inspiration  in  the 
hour  of  battle,  and  for  w^hom  she  had  contracted  a  friend- 
ship,—  it  was  quite  natural  that  she  should  wish  to  have 
the  captain  well  acquainted  with  her  grandmother.  She 
loved   the   old   lady   herself,    and   of  course   so   brave, 

m 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  13 

handsome,  and  loyal  a  person  as  her  friend  had  proved 
to  be,  must  share  her  reverence  and  respect.  Besides, 
the  venerable  woman  remembered  all  about  the  last  war 
with  Great  Britain.  Her  husband  had  been  one  of  the 
firemen  sent  out  with  axes  to  cut  away  the  bridges  which 
connect  Boston  with  the  surrounding  country,  when  an 
invasion  of  the  town  was  expected.  She  could  tell  a  good 
story,  and  as  Somers  was  a  military  man,  it  was  highly 
important  that  he  should  know  all  about  the  dreaded 
invasion  which  did  not  take  place. 

Captain  Somers  was  obliged  to  deprive  himself  of  the 
pleasure  of  listening  to  the  old  lady's  history  of  those 
stirring  events,  for  more  exciting  ones  were  in  progress 
on  the  very  day  of  which  we  write.  He  was  sorry,  for 
he  anticipated  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  from  the  visit, 
though  whether  he  expected  to  derive  the  whole  of  it 
from  the  presence  of  the  grandmother,  we  are  not  in- 
formed ;  and  it  would  be  wicked  to  pry  too  deeply  into 
the  secrets  of  the  young  man's  heart.  "We  are  not  quite 
sure  that  Lilian  was  entirely  unselfish  when  she  described 
what  a  rich  treat  the  old  lad/s  narrative  would  be  ;  but 
we  are  certain  that  she  was  entirely  sincere,  and  that  it 
was  quite  proper  to  offer  some  extra  inducement  to  se- 
cure the  gallant  captain's  attendance. 

The  captain  did  not  need  any  extraordinary  induce^ 
ments,  beyond  the  presence  of  the  fair  Lilian  herself. 
We  even  believe  that  he  would  have  cheerfully  spent  the 
2 


14  FIGHTIXQ   JOE,    OB 

evening  at  Xo.  —  Rutland  Street,  if  there  had  been  no 
one  but  herself  to  give  him  a  welcome,  and  aid  him  in 
passing  away  the  hours.  Nothing  but  a  high  sense  of 
duty  could  have  led  him  to  break  the  engagement.  The 
rebel  hordes,  victorious  before  Washington,  and  elated 
by  the  signal  successes  they  had  won,  were  pouring  into 
Maryland,  menacing  Washington,  Baltimore,  and  Phila- 
delphia. It  was  a  time  which  tried  the  souls  of  patriotic 
men  —  a  time  when  no  man  who  loved  his  country  could 
rest  in  peace  while  there  was  a  work  which  his  hands 
could  do. 

The  young  staff  officer  called  upon  the  lady  and  stated 
his  situation.  She  blushed,  as  she  always  did  in  his 
presence,  and  gave  him  a  God-speed  on  his  patriotic 
mission.  She  hoped  he  would  not  be  killed,  or  even 
wounded  ;  that  his  feeble  health  Avould  be  restored  ;  and 
that  God  would  bless  him  as  he  went  forth  to  do  battle 
for  his  treason-ridden  land.  She  was  pale  when  he  took 
her  hand  at  parting ;  her  bosom  heaved  with  emotions, 
to  which  Somers  found  a  response  in  his  own  heart,  but 
which  he  could  not  explain. 

He  went  to  Washington ;  but  the  gallant  army,  still 
suffering  from  the  pangs  of  recent  defeat,  but  yet  strong 
in  the  cause  they  had  espoused,  had  marched  to  the 
scene  of  new  battles.  Somers  had  ah-eady  provided  him- 
self with  his  staff  uniform,  and  he  remained  in  Washing- 
ton only  long  enough  to  purchase  two  horses,  one  of 


TEE  FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  15 

-which  he  mounted  himself,  while  Alick  rode  the  other, 
aud  started  for  the  advance  of  the  army.  The  roads 
were  so  cumbered  "vvith  artillery  trains  and  baggage 
wagons  that  his  progress  was  very  slow,  and  the  corps  to 
which  he  now  belonged  was  several  days  in  advance  of 
him.  By  the  advice  of  a  general  officer,  he  had  made  a 
detour  from  the  direct  road,  and  passed  through  a  com- 
paratively quiet  country. 

The  rebels  were  at  Frederick  City,  and  their  cavalry, 
in  large  and  small  bodies,  was  scattered  all  over  the 
region,  gathering  supplies  for  the  half  starved,  half 
clothed  men  of  Lee's  army.  Thus  far  Somers  had  met 
none  of  these  marauders,  nor  any  of  the  guerillas,  who, 
without  a  license  from  either  side,  were  plundering  sol- 
diers and  civilians  who  could  offer  no  resistance.  Somers 
had  ridden  as  rapidly  as  his  feeble  state  of  health  would 
permit ;  but  his  enthusiasm  had  urged  him  forward  until 
his  horse  was  more  in  danger  of  giving  out  than  the 
rider.  But  when  he  reached  the  cross-roads,  at  which 
we  find  him,  doubtful  about  the  right  way,  he  had  slept 
the  preceding  night  at  a  farm-house,  and  horse  and  rider 
were  now  in  excellent  condition. 

*'  Are  your  pistols  ready  for  use,  Alick?"  asked  Som- 
ers, as  he  heard  the  sounds  of  the  horses'  feet. 

"  Yes,  sar  ;  always  keep  the  pistols  ready.  But  what 
you  gwine  to  do  wid  pistols  here  ? "  replied  the  servant, 
as  he  took  his  weapon  from  his  pocket. 


16  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  The  country  is  full  of  rebels  and  guerillas ;  they 
may  want  our  horses,  and  perhaps  ourselves.  I  can't 
spare  my  coat  and  boots  very  well  at  present." 

"  Guess  not,  massa,"  laughed  Alick,  as  he  examined 
the  lock  of  his  pistol. 

"  I  have  never  seen  you  in  a  fight,  Alick.  Do  you 
think  you  can  stand  up  to  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  massa,  I  don't  want  to  say  much  about  that, 
but  I  reckon  I  won't  run  away  no  faster  'n  you  do." 

"  If  I  get  into  trouble  with  these  rufiians,  I  shall  want 
to  know  whether  I  can  depend  on  you,  or  not.'* 

"  Golly,  massa  !  You  can  depend  on  me  till  the  cows 
come  home  !  "  exclaimed  Alick.  "  I  doesn't  like  to  say 
much  about  it,  but  if  these  yere  hossmen  wants  to  fight, 
I'm  not  the  chile  to  run  away." 

"  They  don't  look  much  like  rebels  or  guerillas,"  added 
Somers,  as  he  obtained  his  first  view  of  the  approaching 
horsemen.  "  But  you  can't  tell  much  by  the  looks  in 
these  times,  for  the  villains  have  robbed  us  till  half  of 
them  wear  our  own  colors.  Those  people  certainly  wear 
the  uniform  of  our  army." 

"  Dar's  only  two  of  'em,  massa.  I  reckon  they  don't 
want  to  fight  much." 

"  I  only  wished  to  be  cautious  ;  very  likely  they  are 
loyal  and  true  men,"  replied  Somers,  as  the  strangers 
came  too  near  to  permit  any  fmlher  remarks  in  regard 
to  their  probable  character. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  17 

Both  the  travellers  Averc  evidently  officers  of  the  army, 
though,  as  Somers  had  suggested,  it  was  impossible  to 
tell  what  anybody  was  by  the  looks,  or  even  if  he  was 
seen  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  As  they  came  round 
a  bend  of  the  road,  and  discovered  the  captain  and  his 
servant,  they  reined  up  their  steeds,  and  seemed  to  be 
disturbed  by  the  same  doubts  which  had  troubled  the  first 
party.  But  they  advanced,  after  a  cautious  survey,  and 
each  of  them  touched  his  cap,  when  they  came  within 
speaking  distance.  Somers  politely  returned  the  salute, 
and  moved  his  horse  towards  them. 

"  Good  morning,  gentlemen,"  said  he.  "  Can  you 
inform  me  which  is  the  road  to  Frederick  City?" 

"  The  left,  sir.  If  you  are  going  in  that  direction,  we 
shall  be  glad  of  your  company,"  replied  one  of  the  officers. 

*'  Thank  you  ;  I  shall  be  glad  to  go  wijh  you." 

"  I  see  by  your  uniform  that  you*  belong  on  the  staff," 
added  the  officer  who  had  done  the  talking. 

"  Yes,  sir ;  "  and  Somers,  without  reserve,  informed 
him  who  and  what  he  was. 

"  Somers  !  "  exclaimed  the  stranger.  "  I  have  heard 
of  you  before.  Perhaps  you  remember  one  Dr.  Scoville, 
of  Petersburg?" 

"  Perfectly,"  laughed  Somers. 

"  "Well,  sir,  he  is  an  uncle  of  mine." 

"Indeed?  I  took  you  to  be  an  officer  of  the  United 
States  army." 

2* 


18  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  So  I  am ;  but  my  father  married  a  sister  of  Dr. 
ScoviUe." 

"  Dr.  ScoviUe  is  a  very  good  sort  of  man,  but  he  is  an 
awful  rebel.  I  suppose  he  bears  no  good  will  towards 
me  and  my  friend  Major  de  Banyan." 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  the  affair  was  a  capital  joke  on  the 
doctor.  And  since  he  is  a  rebel,  and  a  very  pestileut  one 
too,  I  enjoyed  it  quite  as  much  as  you  did." 

"  I  feel  very  grateful  to  him  for  what  he  did  for  me. 
I  went  into  his  house  without  an  invitation ;  he  dressed 
my  wound,  and  nearly  cured  me.  When  the  soldiers 
came  upon  us,  he  promised  to  give  us  up  at  the  proper 
time,  and  pledged  himself  for  our  safety.  We  left  him, 
one  day,  rather  shabbily,  I  confess  ;  but  we  had  no  taste 
for  a  rebel  prison,  for  the  rebs  don't  always  manage  their 
prisons  very  well." 

"  I  have  heard  the  whole  story.  It's  rich.  If  you 
please,  we  wall  move  on." 

"With  all  my  heart,  major,"  replied  Somers,  who 
read  his  rank  from  his  shoulder-straps. 

"  I  am  Major  Riggleston,  of  the  — nd  Maryland  Home 
Brigade,  on  detached  duty,  just  now." 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  you.  Major  Riggleston,  especially 
as  you  are  a  relative  of  my  friend  Dr.  ScoviUe,  and  on 
the  right  side." 

"  This  is  Captain  Barkwood,  of  the  regulars." 

Somers  saluted  the  quiet  gentleman,  who  had  hardly 


THE    FOB  TUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  10 

spoken  during  the  interview.  Major  lliggleston  was 
dressed  in  an  entirely  new  uniform,  and  rode  a  splendid 
horse,  which  led  Somers  to  believe  that  he  belonged  to 
one  of  the  wealthy  and  aristocratic  families  of  the  state 
which  so  tardily  embraced  the  cause  of  the  Union.  On 
the  other  hand,  Captain  Barkwood  looked  as  though  he 
had  seen  hard  service  ;  for  his  uniform  was  rusty,  and 
his  face  was  bronzed  by  exposure  beneath  the  fervid  sun 
of  the  south. 

The  party  were  excellently  well  acquainted  with  each 
other  before  they  had  ridden  a  mile.  After  the  topics 
suggested  by  the  first  meeting  had  been  exhausted, 
Somers  mentioned  his  fear  of  the  guerillas  and  rebel 
marauders,  who  kept  a  little  way  in  advance  of  the 
invading  army.  The  travellers  were  now  farther  north 
than  Frederick,  and  some  distance  from  the  advancing 
line  of  the  Union  army.  The  road  they  had  chosen  was 
not  one  of  the  great  thoroughfares  of  the  state  ;  conse- 
quently it  was  but  little  frequented. 

"  I  don't  object  to  meeting  a  small  party  of  guerillas," 
said  Major  Riggleston  ;  "  for,  gentlemen,  if  you  are  of 
the  same  mind  that  I  am,  we  should  show  them  the 
quality  of  true  Union  steel." 

*'  I  hope  we  shall  not  meet  any  ;  but  if  we  do,  I  am  in 
no  humor  to  lose  my  horse  or  my  boots,"  replied  Somers. 
*•'  But  we  may  meet  so  many  of  them  that  it  would  be 
better  to  trust  to  our  horses'  heels  than  to  the  quality  of 
our  steel." 


20  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 


u 


True  —  too  many  would  not  be  agreeable  ;  but,  say 
a  dozen  or  twenty  of  them.  We  could  whip  that  number 
without  difficulty.  The  fact  is,  gentlemen,  I  am  a  fight- 
ing man.  There  has  been  too  much  of  this  looking  at 
the  enemy,  and  then  running  away.  I  repeat,  gentlemen, 
I  am  a  fiojhtinor  man." 

''  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  and  glad  to  have  met  you,  for 
I  am  told  there  are  a  good  many  of  these  small  plun- 
dering parties  loose  about  this  region ;  and  I  would 
rather  fight  than  lose  my  boots,"  laughed  Somers; 

"  Three  of  us  can  do  a  good  thing,"  added  the  major. 

"  Four,"  suggested  Somers. 

"Four?" 

"  My  man  can  fight." 

"  But  he  is  a  niir^er  :  nia^g-ers  won't  fio^ht." 

"  He  will.  By  the  way,  he  came  from  your  uncle's, 
at  Petersburg." 

"  Alick  !  "  exclaimed  the  major,  glancing  back  at  the 
servant. 

He  did  not  seem  to  be  well  pleased  to  discover  one  of 
his  uncle's  contrabands  at  this  distance  from  home  ;  for, 
with  many  other  chivalrous  southi'ons,  he  believed  it 
would  be  a  good  thing  to  preserve  the  Union,  if  slavery 
could  be  preserved  with  it.  He  spoke  a  few  words  to 
Alick,  but  did  not  seem  to  enjoy  the  interview. 

"'Yes,  we  can  whip  at  least  twenty  of  the  villains," 
add!ed   the   major,  as  he   resumed    his    place   between 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  21 

Somers  and  Captain  Barkwood.  "  "What  do  you 
think?"  he  continued,  turninof  to  the  rcirular. 

"  I  hope  we  shall  not  meet  any.  I  am  a  coward  by 
nature.  I  would  rather  run  than  fight,  any  time,"  replied 
the  captain.  "  Of  all  things  I  dislike  these  small  skir- 
mishes, th^e  hand-to-hagd  fights." 

*'  I  like  them  ;  I'm  a  fighting  man,"  said  the  major. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  will  have  a  chance  to  test  your 
mettle,"  said  Somers.  "  Those  fellows  are  guerillas,  if  I 
mistake  not,"  added  he,  pointing  to  half  a  dozen  horse- 
men who  were  approaching  them. 


22  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER     II. 


A    SKIRMISH    ON    THE    ROAD. 


_  HE  horsemen  who  had  attracted  the  attention  of 


Captain  Somers  were  hard-looking  fellows.  They 
were  dressed  iu  a  miscellaneous  manner,  their 
clothes  being  partly  civilian  and  partly  military.  Por- 
tions of  their  garb  were  new,  and  probably  at  no  distant 
period  had  been  part  of  the  stock  in  trade  of  some  in- 
dustrious clothier  iu  one  of  the  invaded  towns  ;  and  por- 
tions were  faded  and  dilapidated,  bearing  the  traces  of  a 
severe  march  through  the  soft  mud  of  Virginia.  It  was 
not  easy  to  mistake  their  character. 

The  guerillas  perceived  the  approaching  party  almost 
as  soon  as  they  were  themselves  perceived.  They 
adopted  no  uncertain  tactics,  but  instantly  put  spurs  to 
their  horses  and  galloped  up  to  the  little  squad  of  officers. 
They  appeared  to  have  no  doubts  whatever  in  regard  to 
the  issue  of  the  meeting,  for  they  resorted  to  no  caution- 
ary movements,  and  made  no  prudential  halts.  They 
had  evidently  had  everything  their  own  way  in  previous 
encounters  of  this  description,  and  seemed  to  be  satisfied 


THE   FOB  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  23 

that  tliey  had  only  to  demand  an  unconditional  surren- 
der in  order  to  find  their  way  at  once  to  the  pockets  of 
the  travellers,  or  to  appropriate  their  coats  and  boots  to 
the  use  of  the  rebel  army. 

"  Halt !  "  said  the  nondescript  gentleman  at  the  head 
of  the  guerillas. 

"  Your  business?  "  demanded  Major  Kiggleston. 

"  Sorry  to  trouble  you,  gentlemen,  but  you  are  my 
prisoners,'*  said  the  chief  guerilla,  as  blandly  as  though 
he  had  been  in  a  drawinfr-room.  ' 

*'  Who  are  you,  gentlemen?"  asked  the  major. 

"  I  don't  like  to  be  uncivil  to  a  well-dressed  gentleman 
like  yourself ;  but  I  haven't  learned  my  catechism  lately, 
and  can't  stop  to  be  questioned.  In  one  word,  do  you 
surrender  ?  " 

"  Allow  me  a  moment  to  consult  my  friends." 

"  Only  one  moment." 

"  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  surrender,  Captain 
Somers  ?  " 

"  I  thought  you  were  a  fighting  man,"  replied  Somers. 

"  I  am,  when  circumstances  will  admit  of  it ;  but  they 
are  two  to  our  one." 

"  Just  now  you  thought  we  were  a  match  for  at  least 
twenty  of  these  fellows." 

"  Time's  up,  gentlemen,"  said  the  dashing  guerilla. 

"  What  do  you  say.  Captain  Somers?  " 

'*  You  can  do  as  you  please  ;  I  don't  surrender,  for  one.'* 


24  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  But  this  is  madness." 

"  I  don't  care  wliat  it  is  ;  I  am  going  to  fight  my  way 
through." 

"  Do  you  surrender?"  demanded  the  impatient  chief 
of  the  horsemen. 

"  No  ! "  replied  Somers,  in  his  most  decided  tone. 

"  Then  you  are  a  dead  man !  "  And  the  guerilla 
raised  his  pistol. 

Somers  already  had  one  of  his  revolvers  in  his  hand, 
and  before  the  villain  had  fairly  uttered  the  Avords,  he 
presented  his  weapon  and  fired,  as  quick  as  the  flash  of 
the  lightning.  The  leader  di'opped  from  his  horse,  and 
his  pistol  was  discharged  in  the  act,  but  the  ball  went 
into  the  ground.  Almost  at  the  same  instant  the  quiet 
captain  of  the  regulars  fired,  and  wounded  another  of  the 
banditti.  The  others,  apparently  astonished  at  this  un- 
expected resistance,  discharged  their  pistols,  and  pressed 
forward,  with  their  sabres  in  hand,  to  avenge  the  fall  of 
their  comrades. 

Somers  rapidly  fired  the  other  barrels  of  his  revolver, 
and  so  did  Captain  Barkwood,  but  without  the  same 
decisive  effect  as  before,  though  two  of  the  assailants 
appeared  to  be  slightly  wounded.  There  was  no  further 
opportunity  to  use  firearms,  and  the  officers  drew  their 
swords,  as  they  fell  back  before  the  impetuous  charge  of 
the  savage  guerillas.  Major  Riggleston  followed  their 
example,  and  for  a  moment  the  sparks  flew  from   the 


THE    FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  25 

well-tempered  steel  of  the  combatants.  Our  officers  were 
accomplished  swordsmen,  but  the  furious  rebels  appeared 
to  be  getting  the  better  of  them.  Major  Riggleston  con- 
trived to  wheel  his  horse,  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to  o-et 
out  of  the  melee  with  a  whole  skin. 

At  this  point,  when  victory  seemed  about  to  perch 
on  the  rebel  standard,  Alick,  wlio  had  thus  for  been 
ignored,  brought  down  a  third  guerilla  with  his  pistol. 
The  negro  was  cool,  collected,  and  self-possessed.  He 
had  not  fired  before,  because  the  officers  sto'od  between 
him  and  the  assailants.  Now,  as  he  had  no  sword,  he 
stood  off,  and  took  deliberate  aim  at  his  man. 

Captain  Barkwood,  who  was  a  man  of  immense  mus- 
cle, succeeded,  after  a  desperate  hand-to-hand  conflict,  in 
wounding  his  opponent  in  the  sword  arm.  The  fellow 
dropped  his  weapon,  and  turning  his  horse,  fled  with  the 
utmost  precipitation.  The  only  remaining  one,  finding 
himself  alone,  immediately  followed  his  example.  The 
battle  was  won,  and  the  coats  and  boots  were  evidently 
saved. 

"  "Why  don't  you  follow  them?"  cried  Major  Rigtrles- 
ton,  rushing  madly  up  to  the  spot  at  this  decisive  mo- 
ment.    "  Hunt  them  down  !     Tear  them  to  pieces.", 

"  We'll  leave  that  for  our  fighting  man  to  do,"  r.eplied 
Somers,  with  a  smile,  though  he  was  so  much  out  of 
breath  with  the  violence  of  his  exertions  that  he  could 
scarcely  articulate  the  words. 
3 


26  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

"  Don't  let  them  escape,"  added  the  major,  furiously. 
"  Cut  them  down  !  Don't  let  them  plunder  the  country 
any  more." 

As  he  spoke,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  dashed 
madly  up  the  road  in  pursuit  of  the  defeated  guerillas. 

"  Your  hand,  Captain  Somers,"  said  the  regular. 
"  You  are  a  trump." 

,"  Thank  you  ;  and  I  am  happy  to  reciprocate  the  com- 
pliment," replied  the  young  staff  officer,  as  he  took  the 
proffered  hand  of  Captain  Barkwood. 

.  "  As  a  general  rule,  I  don't  think  much  of  volunteer, 
officers,"  continued  the  regular;    "but  you  are  a  stun- 
ning good  fellow,  and  as  plucky  as  a  hen  that  has  lost 
one  of  her  chickens." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  good  opinion,  and 
especially  for  your  ornithological  simile,"  laughed  Som- 
ers,  who,  we  need  not  add,  was  delighted  with  the  con- 
duct of  his  companion. 

"My  what?" 

"  Your  ornithological  simile." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  must  have  swallowed  a  quarto 
dictionary.  If  you  had  only  used  that  expression 
before  the  fight,  the  rebels  would  certainly  have  run 
away,  and  declined  to  engage  a  man  who  used  words  of 
such  ominous  length.     No  matter  ;  you  can  fight." 

"  I  can  when  I  am  obliged  to  do  so.  You  remarked, 
a  little  while  ago,  that  you  were  a  coward  by  nature." 


THE   FOR  TUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  27 

"  So  I    am ;    but  it  was    safer  to   light  tlian  it  -svas 

to  run." 

''  You  did  not  behave  like  a  man  who  is  a  coward  by 

nature." 

"  But  I  am  a  coward ;  and  I  dislike  these  hand-to- 
hand  encounters." 

"  You  didn't  appear  to  dislike  them  very  much  just 
now,"  added  Somers,  who  was  filled  with  admiration  at 
tlie  gallant  bearing  of  the  regular. 

''  I  do  ;  war  is  a  science.  I  play  at  it  just  as  I  do 
at  chess.  By  the  way,  Captain  Somers,  do  you  play 
chess?" 

*'  Only  a  little." 

*'  Well,  it's  a  noble  game  ;  and  I  may  have  the  pleasure 
of  letting  you  beat  me  some  time.  War  is  like  chess ; 
it's  a  great  game.  I  like  to  see  a  well-planned  battle, 
and  even  to  take  a  part  in  it.  But  these  little  affairs, 
where  everything  depends  on  brute  force,  are  my  par- 
ticular abomination.  There  is  no  science  about  them  — 
no  strategy  —  no  chance  to  flank,  or  do  any  other  smart 
thing." 

'•  Here  comes  the  major ;  he  didn't  catcli  his  man," 
said  Somers,  as  the  "  fighting  man  "  was  seen  galloping 
towards  them. 

"  He's  a  prudent  man,"  replied  the  regular,  hardly 
betraying  the  contempt  he-  felt  for  this  particular  vol- 
unteer. 


28  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  He's  a  Maryland  man." 

"  So  am  I,"  promptly  returned  Captain  Barkwood,  as 
though  he  feared  that  something  might  be  said  against 
the  bravery  of  the  men  of  his  state.  "  I  was  born  and 
brought  up  not  ten  miles  from  the  spot  where  we  now 
stand." 

"  Why  didn't  you  follow  me?"  demanded  the  major, 
in  a  reproachful  tone,  as  he  reined  in  his  panting  steed. 

"  We  had  got  enough  of  it,"  answered  the  regular. 

"  We  might  have  brought  them  down  if  you  had 
joined  me  in  fhe  pursuit." 

"  We  might,  if  you  had  stuck  by  us  in  the  fight,"  said 
Somers,  with  a  gentle  smile,  to  break  the  force  of  the 
rebuke. 

"Stood  by  you?"  exclaimed  Major  Riggleston,  his 
face  flushed  with  anger.  "•  Do  you  intend  to  insinuate 
that  I  did  not  stand  by  you?  " 

*'  You  did,  but  at  a  safe  distance." 

"Didn't  I  do  all  the  talking  with  the  villains?" 
foamed  the  major. 

"  Certainly  you  did,"  replied  the  regular. 

"  Didn't  I  bear  the  whole  brunt  of  the  assault  at  the 
beginning  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly  you  did,"  responded  Captain  Barkwood, 
before  Somers  could  speak  a  word. 

"  Didn't  I  fight  like  a  tiger,  till  —  " 

"  Unquestionably  you  did." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  29 

"  Till  my  rein  got  eutaaglcd  iu  my  spur,  and  whirled 
my  horse  round  ?  " 

"  My  dear  major,  you  behaved  like  a  lion,"  said  Bark- 
wood,  in  tones  so  soothing  that  tlie  anger  of  RigglestoQ 
passed  away  like  the  shadow  of  a  summer  cloud. 

"  I  am  a  fighting  man." 

*'  That's  so." 

*'  And  I  dislike  this  marching  and  countermarching 
in  the  face  of  an  enemy." 

''  There  we  unfortunately  disagree  for  the  first  time. 
That  is  strategy,  —  the  art  of  w^ar,  —  and  all  that  makes 
war  glorious." 

"  I  believe  in  pitching  into  an  enemy,  and,  when  he  is 
beaten,  in  following  him  up  till  there  is  nothing  left  of 
him.  I  regret,  gentlemen,  that  you  did  not  join  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  two  miscreants  with  me.  We  might  have 
annihilated  them  as  well  as  not." 

Somers  did  not  understand  the  humor  of  the  regular, 
and  could  not  fathom  his  object  in  permitting  the  coward 
still  to  believe  that  he  was  a  fighting  man.  While  the 
conversation  was  in  progress,  Alick  had  removed  the 
bodies  of  the  two  dead  rebels  from  the  road,  and  placed 
the  other  two,  who  were  severely  w^ounded,  in  a  com- 
fortable position  under  a  tree.  He  had  filled  their  can- 
teens with  water  from  the  brook  which  ran  across  the 
road  a  short  distance  from  the  spot,  and  left  them  to  live 
or  die,  as  the  future  might  determine.  He  had  also 
3* 


80  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

transferred  a  good  saddle  from  one  of  the  guerillas' 
horses  to  his  own  animal,  which  had  not  before  been 
provided  with  one. 

The  party  moved  on  again.  Major  Riggleston  talked 
about  the  fight ;  for  some  reason  or  other  he  could  speak 
of  nothing  else.  He  still  called  himself  a  fighting  man, 
and  still  talked  as  though  he  had  fired  the  most  effective 
shots  and  struck  the  hardest  blows  which  had  been  given. 
The  regular  agreed  with  him  in  all  things,  except  when 
he  impugned  the  sacred  claims  of  strategy. 

"  Never  cross  a  fool  in  his  folly,  nor  ruin  a  man 
in  his  own  estimation,"  said  Captain  Barkwood,  when 
Somers,  at  a  favorable  moment,  asked  an  explanation 
of  his  singular  commendation  of  the  poltroon. 

"  But  he  is  a  coward." 

"  Call  no  man  a  coward  but  yourself.  There  is 
hardly  an  ofliicer  in  the  army,  from  the  general-in-chief 
down  to  the  corporal  of  the  meanest  regiment  in  the 
service,  that  has  not  been  called  a  coward.  You  don't 
know  w^ho  are  cowards,  and  w-ho  are  not." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right." 

"  I  know  I  am.  I  am  a  coward  myself,  but  I  know 
nothing  about  anybody  else." 

"  I  differ  with  you." 

"  You  don't  know  anything  about  it.  The  major  don't 
love  you  over  much  now  for  what  you  hinted.  Never 
make  an  enemy  when  there  is  no  need  of  it." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  31 

The  approach  of  Major  Rigglcston  put  an  end  to  this 
conversation.  Somers  coukl  not  help  noticing  that  the 
major  treated  him  rather  cavalierly  ;  but  as  he  was  not 
particularly  anxious  to  secure  the  esteem  of  such  a  man, 
the  manner  of  his  companion  did  not  disturb  him. 

In  the  afternoon  the  party  reached  Frederick,  which 
had  just  been  abandoned  by  Lee's  rear  guard,  and  was 
now  occupied  by  a  portion  of  McClcllan's  advance. 

"  Gentlemen,  we  have  had  a  hard  ride,  and  I  know 
you  must  be  tired  as  well  as  myself,"  said  Major  Rig- 
gleston,  as  they  entered  the  city.  "  You  will  permit  me 
to  oflfer  you  the  hospitalities  of  my  father's  house." 

*'  Tliank  you ;  I  accept,  for  one,"  replied  Captain 
Bark  wood.     ''  I  am  not  tired,  but  I  am  half  starved." 

"  And  you,  Somers?  "  added  the  major,  with  a  degree 
of  cordiality  in  his  manner  which  he  had  not  exhibited 
since  the  skirmish  on  the  road. 

The  young  captain  had  been  in  the  saddle  all  day  ;  his 
health  was  feeble,  and  he  was  very  much  exhausted  by 
the  journey.  He  had  hoped  to  reach  the  headquarters 
of  the  first  army  corps  that  night ;  but  he  was  still 
several  miles  distant  from  his  destination,  and  his  physi- 
cal condition  did  not  admit  of  this  addition  to  his  day's 
travel.  With  many  thanks  he  accepted  the  invitation, 
apparently  so  cordially  extended,  and  the  little  party 
halted,  soon  after,  in  the  grounds  of  an  elegant  mansion. 
The   tired   horses  were  given  into  the   keeping   of  the 


32  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

servants,  and  Major  Kiggleston  led  the  •way  into  the 
house. 

They  were  ushered  into  the  drawing-room,  where  the 
major  excused  himself  to  inform  the  family  of  their 
arrival.     He  left  the  door  open  behind  him. 

''  They  are  Yankee  officers  !  "  exclaimed  a  female  voice. 
"  What  did  Fred  bring  them  here  for?  Get  out  of  sight, 
Ernest,  as  fast  as  you  can." 

A  door  leading  from  the  entry  closed,  and  the  visitors 
heard  no  more.  The  regular  paid  no  attention  to  the 
remark,  and  Som^ers  followed  his  example. 


THE    FOUTL'XES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  33 


CHAPTER     III. 

FIGHTING    JOE. 

/ 

^^•'APTAIX  SORTERS,  tliough  he  said  nothing  to 
/I  his  companion  about  the  remark  to  which  they 
Vjy  liad  listened,  could  not  help  thinking  about  it. 
The  regular  and  himself  had  been  alluded  to  as  Yan- 
kee officers.  It  was  evident  that  some  one  was  present 
who  ought  not  to  be  present ;  but  as  a  guest  in  the 
house,  it  was  not  competent  for  him  to  investigate  the 
meaning  of  the  suspicious  words. 

Major  Riggleston  presently  returned  to  the  drawing- 
room,  attended  by  an  elderly  gentleman,  whom  he  in- 
troduced as  his  father,  and  a  beautiful  but  majestic 
and  haughty  young  lady  of  eighteen,  whom  he  introduced 
as  Miss  Maud  Hasbrouk.  When  Somers  heard  her 
voice,  which  was  as  musical  as  the  rippling  of  a  mountain 
rill,  he  recognized  the  tones  of  the  person  who  had  used 
the  doubtful  words  in  the  adjoining-  room. 

The  old  gentleman  was  happy  to  see  the  visitors,  es- 
I>ecially  as  they  belonged  to  the  Union  army,  whose 
presence    was  welcome  to   him   after   the    visit   of  the 


34  FIOHTIXG    JOB,    OR 

rebels.  He  hoped  that  General  MeClellan  would  be  able 
to  drive  the  invaders  from  the  soil  —  conquer,  capture, 
and  exterminate  them.  His  words  were  certainly  strong 
enough  to  vouch  for  his  loyalty  ;  and  these,  added  to  the 
fact  that  the  major  was  an  officer  in  the  Maryland  Home 
Brigade,  satisfied  Somers  that  he  had  not  fallen  into  a 
nest  of  rebels  and  traitors,  as  the  obnoxious  remark,  not 
intended  for  his  ears,  had  almost  led  him  to  believe. 

"  The  more  true  men  we  have  here  the  better  ;  for  we 
have  been  co^apletely  overrun  by  traitors,"  said  the  old 
gentleman,  alluding  to  the  visit  of  Lee's  army. 

"  You  use  strong  words,  Mr.  Riggleston,"  added  the 
lady,  whose  bright  eyes  flashed  as  she  spoke. 
"  I  say  what  I  mean,"  continued  the  host. 
"  Is  there  any  doubt  of  the  fact  that  the  state  has  been 
invaded  by  the  rebels  ? "  asked  Somers,  with  a  -smile. 
"  None  whatever ;    but  Mr.  Riggleston   called   them 
traitors,"  replied  Miss  Hasbrouk. 
"  Is  there  any  doubt  of  that  fact?" 
"  Are  men  who  are  fighting  for  the  dearest  rights  of 
man  traitors?"  demanded  she,  warmly. 

"  Undoubtedly  not.  But  the  rebels  are  not  fighting 
for  any  such  thing." 

"  I  beo"  your  pardon.  Captain  Somers.  I  think  they 
are.     Permit  me  to  add,  that  I  am  a  rebel." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  it,"  laughed  Somers,  pleased 
with  the  spirit,  no  less  than  the  beauty,  of  the  lady. 


THE   FOItTUXES    OF  A    S'JTAFF    OFFICER.  35 

"  I  suppose  you  are,"  replied  she.  "  Tlie  South  is 
fighting  for  the  right  of  self-government  —  for  its  own 
existence.  The  right  of  secession  is  just  as  evident  to 
me  as  the  right  to  live." 

The  question  of  secession  T\'as  fully  discussed  by  the 
lady  and  Somers,  but  both  of  them  were  in  the  best  of 
liumor.  Neither  contestant  succeeded  in  convincing  the 
other  on  a  single  point ;  and  when  the  party  were  called 
to  supper,  they  had  advanced  just  about  as  far  as  the 

statesmen  had  when  the   momentous  issue  was  handed 

« 

over  to  the  arbitrament  of  arms.  It  was  a  matter  to  be 
adjusted  by  hard  fighting ;  and  as  Miss  Ilasbrouk  and 
Somers  did  not  intend  to  settle  the  question  in  this  rude 
manner,  the  subject  was  dropped. 

The  family,  so  far  as  Somers  could  judge,  were  loyal 
people.  The  imperial  young  lady,  who  was  a  fit  type  of 
the  southern  character,  was  only  a  visitor.  In  spite  of 
her  proud  and  haughty  bearing,  she  was  a  very  agree- 
able person,  and  the  guests  enjoyed  her  society. 

"  I  am  a  rebel,"  said  she,  as  they  sat  down  to  supper ; 
*'  but  I  am,  sorely  against  my  will,  I  confess,  a  non- 
combatant,  and  we  are  now  on  neutral  ground.  We 
Avill  bury  our  differences,  then.  Captain  Somers,  and  be 
friends." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  replied  the  gallant  young 
captain. 

A  very  pleasant  evening  was  spent  in  the  drawing- 


86  FiailTlXG    JOE.    OR 

room,  during  wliicli  Miss  Ilasbrouk  affected  the  company 
of  Somers  rather  than  that  of  the  regular,  who  appeared 
to  be  as  stoical  in  society  as  he  was  on  the  road.  She 
was  lively,  w'itty,  and  fascinating,  and  seemed  to  be 
very  much  delighted  with  the  society  of  the  young  staff 
officer.  lie  Avas  an  exceedingly  good-looking  fellow,  it 
is  true  ;  but  he  was  a  Yankee,  and  she  made  no  secret 
of  her  aversion  to  Yankees  in  general.  lie  was  an  ex- 
ception to  the  rule,  and  she  compelled  him  to  relate  the 
history  of  his  brief  campaign  at  Petersburg.  She 
lauijhed  at  the  chairrin  of  Dr.  Scoville,  when  his  invalid 
took  to  himself  wings  and  flew  away ;  Ifut  she  took  no 
pains  to  conceal  her  sympathy  with  the  cause  of  the 
Confederacy. 

At  an  early  hour  the  officers  retired  ;  and  as~  they  au-  i 
nounced  their  intention  to  depart  at  daylight  in  the 
morning,  they  took  leave  of  the  ladies.  Miss  Ilasbrouk 
was  so  kind  as  to  hope  she  might  meet  the  captain  again  ; 
for  notwithstanding  his  vile  political  affmities,  he  was  a 
sensible  person. 

Before  the  sun  rose,  Somers  and  the  regular  were  in 
the  saddle.  The  major,  whose  route  lay  in  a  different 
direction,  was  no  longer  their  companion.  The  head- 
quarters of  the  first  army  corps  were  on  the  ^Monocacy ; 
and  thither  the  travellers  wended  their  wav  throush  a 
beautiful  country,  which  excited  the  admiration  even  of 
the  stoical  captain  of  the  regulars,  though  it  was  no  new 
scene  to  him. 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  37 

The  reveille  was  sounding  in  the  camps  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Reserves  as  they  passed  through  on  their  way 
to  the  tent  of  the  commanding  general.  They  reached 
their  destination,  and  their  names  were  sent  in  by  an 
orderly  in  attendance. 

''  Captain  Somers,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said  the 
general,  at  a  later  hour,  when  they  obtained  an  audience. 

"  Thank  you,  general  ;  I  am  very  grateful  for  the 
kindness  and  consideration  you  have  bestowed  upon  me," 
replied  Somers. 

"  You  are  an  aid-de-camp  now  ;  but  I  ought  to  say 
that  I  gave  you  the  appointment  because  you  are  a  good 
fellow  on  a  scout." 

'•  I  will  do  my  best  in  whatever  position  you  may 
place  me." 

"  You  were  rather  unfortunate  in  your  last  trip,  but 
you  accomplished  the  work  I  gave  you  to  do.  We  shall 
do  some  hard  fighting  in  a  day  or  two,  and  there  will  be 
sharp  work  for  you  before  that  comes  off." 

*'  I  am  ready,  general.  Every  man  is  ready  to  march 
or  fight  as  long  as  he  can  stand  while  you  are  in  com- 
mand." 

"  I  will  see  you  again  in  an  hour,  Somers,"  said  the 
general,  as  he  turned  to  Captain  Barkwood,  who  be- 
longed to  the  engineers,  and  had  been  assigned  to  a 
position  on  the  staff. 

Somers  soon  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  general's 
4 


38  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  military  family."  His  position  and  rank  were  defined 
in  the  general  orders,  and  duly  promulgated.  From 
those  around  him  he  obtained  all  the  current  knowl- 
edge in  regard  to  the  situation  of  the  rebel  army,  which 
was  posted  in  the  Catoctin  valley,  with  the  South  Moun- 
tain range  in  the  rear,  whose  gaps  and  passes  it  was  to 
defend. 

At  the  time  appointed  Captain  Somers  again  stood  in 
the  presence  of  the  general,  who  was  his  beau-ideal  of 
all  that  was  grand  and  heroic  in  the  military  chieftain. 
He  was  a  tall,  straight,  well-formed  man,  with  a  ruddy 
complexion,  flecked  with  little  thready  veins,  and  a  mus- 
cular frame.  His  eye  was  full  of  energy  ;  he  spoke  with 
his  eye  as  much  as  with  his  voice.  His  military  history 
was  familiar  to  the  nation.  He  was  a  decided  man,  and 
his  decision  had  won  him  his  first  appointment  in  the 
army.  He  said  what  he  meant,  and  meant  what  he  said. 
His  energy  of  character  had  made  him  a  success  from 
the  beofinnino^.  His  faith  in  himself  and  his  faith  in  the 
loyal  army  were  unbounded.  He  fought  and  conquered 
by  the  force  of  his  mighty  will.  He  attempted  only 
what  was  possible,  and  triumphed  through  the  faith  of 
an  earnest  soul.  His  military  judgment  was  of  the 
highest  order,  and  when  he  had  decided  what  could  be 
done,  he  did  it.  His  conclusions,  however  suddenly 
reached,  were  not  the  oflTspring  of  impulse  ;  they  were 
carefully  drawn  from  well-founded  premises.     His  quick 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A     STAFF   OFFICER.  39 

eye  and  his  solid  judgment  rapidly  collated  all  the  facts 
in  regard  to  an  enemy's  strength,  relative  situation,  an  1 
advantage  of  position ;  and  from  them  lie  promptly 
deduced  the  conclusion  whether  to  fight  or  not — how, 
when,  and  where  to  fight. 

The  general's  pet  name  was  "  Fighting  Joe  ;  "  and  by 
this  appellation  he  was  known  and  loved  in  the  army. 
But  he  was  not  a  rash  man  ;  he  made  no  unconsidered 
movements.  If  the  term  implies  rashness  and  blundering 
impetuosity,  it  is  a  misnomer ;  but,  after  Williamsburg, 
Gleudale,  Malvern,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Lookout 
Mountain,  who  could  mistake  its  naeaning?  for  his 
battles  were  too  uniformly  successful  to  be  the  issues 
of  merely  headlong  courage  and  unmatured  strategy. 
All  his  operations  on  the  splendid  fields  where  he  has  so 
gloriously  distinguished  himself,  exhibit  a  head  as  well 
as  an  arm  ;  carefully  considered  plan,  as  well  as  bold 
and  determined  execution. 

The  mention  of  "  Fighting  Joe  '*  warmed  the  hearts 
of  the  soldiers.  He  was  more  popular  than  any  other 
general  in  the  army.  Our  soldiers  Tvere  thinking  men, 
as  -well  as  brave  ones.  They  could  not  love  and  honor  a 
general  who  led  them  into  the  forefront  of  battle  to  be 
entrapped  and  sacrificed.  They  could  not-  believe  in  a 
man  whose  highest  recommendation  was  brute  courasre. 
''  Fighting  Joe  "  was  one  of  the  ablest  strategists  in  the 
army  ;  and,  wherever  he  has  justified  his  title  as  a  fight- 


40  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

ing  man,  he  has  also  displayed  the  highest  skill  and 
judgment,  and  a  profound  knowledge  and. appreciation  of 
the  science  of  war. 

Somers  stood  before  the  «?eneral  with  a  certain  feeling: 
of  awe  and  reverence,  w4iich  one  experiences  in  the 
presence  of  a  truly  great  man.  There  was  no  time  to 
talk  of  the  past,  for  the  present  and  the  future  were  full 
of  trials  and  cares  —  were  full  of  a  nation's  life  and  hope. 
Fighting  Joe  was  cool  and  self-possessed,  as  he  always 
was,  even  in  the  mad  rage  of  the  hottest  fight ;  but  he 
was  earnest  and  anxious.  He  was  even  now  doinsr  that 
work  which  wins  battles  quite  ^as  much  as  the  fiery 
onslau2;ht. 

Burnside  was  in  command  of  the  right  wing  of  the 
army,  which  occupied  the  vicinity  of  Frederick.  The 
rebels  had  just  been  driven  out  of  Middletown,  and  the 
cannon  was  roaring  beyond  Catoctin  Creek ;  but  it  was 
evident  to  the  general  that  no  pitched  battle  could 
take  place  that  day.  He  wanted  certain  information, 
which  he  thought  Captain  Somers  was  smart  enough  to 
procure  for  him.  A  map  lay  on  the  table  in  the 
tent,  and  in  a  few  telling  words  he  explained  what  he 
wanted. 

"  Don't  be  rash,  Somers,"  said  he,  as  the  aid-de-camp 
rose  to  depart.  "  Intelligent  courage  is  what  we  want. 
I  shall  depend  upon  you  for  skill  and  discretion  as  well 
as  dash  and  boldness." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  41 

'*  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,"  replied  the  captain,  as  he 
left  the  tent  and  mounted  his  horse. 

He  dashed  off  towards  Middletown,  as  the  army  com- 
menced its  march  in  the  same  direction.  He  reached 
this  place  before  noon,  and  agreeably  to  his  instruc- 
tions, pursued  a  northerly  course,  until  he  reached  a 
point  beyond  the  active  operations  of  Pleasanton's  cav- 
alry, which  was  scouring  the  country.  Leaving  his  horse 
at  a  farm-house,  he  advanced  on  foot  to  the  westward  of 
the  creek,  until  he  discovered  the  outposts  of  the  rebel 
army.  Small  squads  of  Confederate  cavalry  were  beating 
about  this  region,  and  Somers  was  obliged  to  dodge  them 
several  times.  But  he  obtained  his  information,  and 
fully  acquainted  himself  with  the  nature  of  the  country, 
and  the  situation  of  the  rebels  to  the  north  of  the  Cum- 
berland road. 

It  was  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  he  had 
'Completed  his  reconnoissance,  and  he  was  nearly  ex- 
hausted by  the  long  walli  he  had  taken,  and  the  excite- 
ment of  his  occupation.  He  was  at  least  two  miles  from 
the  farm-house  where  he  had  left  his  horse.  He  had 
eaten  nothing  since  breakfast,  and  he  was  faint  for  the 
want  of  food.  He  walked  one  mile,  and  stopped  to  rest 
near  an  elegant  mansion,  which  evidently  belonged  to 
one  of  the  grandees  of  Maryland.  He  was  tempted 
to  visit  the  house  and  procure  some  refreshment ; 
but,  as  he  was  alone,  and  knew  nothing  of  the  politi- 
4* 


42  FIGRTIXG   JOE,    OR 

cal  status  of  the  occupants,  he  did  not  deem  it  prudent 
to  do  so. 

After  r;BSting  a  short  time,  he  rose  and  continued  his 
weary  walk  towards  the  farm-house.  As  he  passed  the 
door  of  the  elegant  mansion,  a  chaise  stopped  at  the 
gate,  and  a  young  officer  handed  a  lady  from  the  vehicle. 
A  servant  led  the  horse  away.  The  lady  paused  at  the 
gate,  and  appeared  to  be  observing  him.  Somers  could 
think  of  no  reason  why  the  lady  should  watch  him,  and 
he  continued  on  his  course  till  he  came  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  spot  where  she  stood. 

"  Captain  Somers  !  "  exclaimed  she  ;  "I  am  delighted 
to  see  you  again  so  soon." 

"Miss  Hasbrouk,"  replied  he,  not  a  little  surprised  to 
find  in  her  his  rebel  friend,  whom  he  had  met  in  Fred- 
erick the  preceding  evening. 

'•  This  is  an  unexpected  pleasure,"  added  she,  extend- 
ing her  hand,  which  the  young  man  took. 

"  I  should  hardly  have  expected  to  meet  you  at  this 
distance  from  Frederick." 

"  O,  I  reside  here ;  this  is  my  father's  house.  You 
Are  some  distance  from  the  Yankee  army." 

"  As  you  are  a  rebel,  it  is  hardly  proper  for  me  to 
inform  you  why  1  happen  to  be  here,"  laughed  he.  "  I 
^m  an  invalid,  and  am  walking  for  my  health." 

"  It  is  well  you  are  away  from  your  army,  for  they 
R'iU  all  be  captured  in  a  few  days." 


TBE    FORTUNES    OF   4    STAFF    OFFICER.  43 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  I  shall  be  with  the  army  before 
night." 

*'  This  is  Major  Riggleston,"  said  she,  turning  to  the 
gentleman,  who  had  followed  the  servant  to  the  stable, 
and  had  just  returned. 

*'  How  do  you  do,  again,  major?  "  said  Somers. 

''  Happy  to  meet  you,  Captain  Somers,"  replied  the 
major,  not  very  cordially. 

"  Now  you  must  come  into  the  house.  Captain  Somers. 
It  is  just  dinner  time  with  us,"  continued  the  lady. 

Somers  was  too  faint  and  hungry  to  refuse. 


44  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MISS    MAUD    HASBROUK. 


/^^jfc^HE  lady  conducted  Captain  Somers  to  the  sitting- 
/'J  room  of  the  house.  He  was  followed  by  Major 
^^Jy  Riggleston,  who,  judging  by  his  looks  and  ac- 
tions, regarded  the  staff  officer  Avith  no  special  favor. 
Miss  Hasbrouk  did  all  the  talking,  however,  and  seemed 
to  do  it  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  major 'in  the 
shade,  for  she  carefully  turned  aside  two  or  tliree  ob- 
servations he  made,  as  though  they  were  of  no  con- 
sequence, or  as  though  they  might  provoke  an  unpleasant 
discussion. 

"  I  am  particularly  delighted  to  meet  you  again.  Cap- 
tain Somers,"  said  the  imperial  beauty,  as  they  entered 
the  apartment. 

"  Thank  you,"  replied  he  ;  though  he  could  see  no 
good  reason  why  Miss  Maud  Hasbrouk  should  be  par- 
ticularly delighted  to  see  him. 

He  was  a  Union  inan  and  a  loyal  soldier,  while  she 
was  a  rebel,  with  strength  of  mind  enough  to  regret  that 
her  sex  compelled  her  to  be  a  non-combatant.     She  was 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  45 

a  magnificent  creature,  even  to  Sonicrs,  whose  kuowled'^e 

o 

of  llie  higher  order  of  beauties  that  float  about  in  the 
mists  of  fashionable  society  was  very  limited.  She  was 
fascinating,  and  he  could  not  resist  the  charm  of  her 
society ;  albeit  iu  tlie  present  instance  he  was  too  much 
exhausted  by  ill  health  and  over-exertion  to  be  very 
brilliant  himself. 

*'  Thi^  is  very  unexpected,   considering  the   distance 
from  the  place  at  which  1  met  you  last  evening,"  said  he. 
''  O,  it  isn't  a  very  great  distance  to  Frederick.     The 
major  drove  me  over  in  three  hours,"  replied  she. 

"  Three  and  a  half,  Maud,"  interposed  the  major, 
apparently  because  he  felt  the  necessity  of  .saying  some- 
thing to  avoid  being  regarded  as  a  mere  cipher. 

"  How  do  you  feel  to-day,  after  the  little  brush  we  had 
yesterday,  major?"  added  Somers,  turning  to  the  gen- 
tleman. 

"What  brush  do  you  refer  to?"  asked  Major  Eig- 
gleston,  rather  coldly. 

"  The  little  rub  we  had  with  the  guerillas." 
"  Really,  you  have  —  " 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  will  you  excuse  me  for  a  few  mo- 
ments?" said  Miss  Hasbrouk,  very  impolitely  breaking 
in  upon  the  major's  remark. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Somers,  with  his  politest  bow. 
*'  You  are  a  fighting  man,  Major  Riggleston  ;  and  the 
affair  of  yesterday  was  pretty  sharp  work  for  a  few 
minutes.'* 


46  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  Of  course  I'm  a  fighting  man  ;  but  —  " 

"  Major,  you  promised  me  something,  you  will  re- 
member," said  the  lady,  who  still  lingered  in  the  room  ; 
"  and  now  is  the  best  time  in  the  world  to  redeem  your 
promise." 

"  TMiat  do  you  mean,  Maud?"  demanded  the  major. 

"  Why,  don't  you  remember?  " 

"  Upon  my  life  I  don't." 

"  Perhaps  Captain  Somers  will  excuse  you  for  a  few 
moments,  while  I  refresh  your  memory." 

"  Certainly  ;  to  be  sure,"  added  the  polite  staff  officer. 

He  moved  towards  the  door  at  which  the  lady  stood. 
Somers  saw  her  whisper  something  to  him  as  she  took 
him  familiarly  by  the  arm. 

"  O,  yes,  I  remember  all  about  it  now  I  "  exclaimed 
he,  with  sudden  vivacity.  "  I  will  return  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. Captain  Somers,  if  you  will  excuse  me." 

"  By  all  means  ;  don't  let  me  interfere  with  any  ar- 
rangement you  have  made." 

They  retired,  and  the  door  closed  behind  them.  Som- 
ers was  not  a  little  befogged  by  the  conduct  of  both  the 
lady  and  the  gentleman.  Several  times  she  had  inter- 
rupted him,  and  the  major  had  an  astonishingly  bad 
memory.  He  seemed  not  to  remember  even  the  skirmish 
on  the  road  ;  and  he  was  equally  unmindful  of  what  had 
passed  between  him  and  the  lady  at  some  period  ante- 
cedent to  the  present. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFlCFIi.  47 

They  were  quite  iutimate  ;  and,  slightly  versed  as  the 
young  officer  was  in  affairs  of  love  and  matrimony,  he 
had  no  ilitlieulty  in  arriving  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
interesting  couple  who  had  just  left  him  were  more  than 
friends ;  and  though  he  had  not  the  skill  to  determine 
what  particular  point  in  the  courtship  they  had  reached 
he  ventured  to  believe  they  Avere  engaged.  Thoun-h  it 
was  rather  a  rash  and  unauthorized  conclusion,  it  was  a 
correct  one  ;  showing  that  young  men  know  some  thin^^s 
by  intuition. 

Somehow  Major  Riggleston  did  not  appear  exactly  ^s 
he  had  appeared  the  preceding  day.     His  uniform  did 
not  look  quite  so  bright ;  his  manner  w\ns  more  brusque 
and  less  polished  ;  and  he  spoke  with  a  heavier  and  more 
solid  tone.     But  men  are  not  always  the  same  on  one 
day  that  they  are  on  another  ;  and  it  was  quite  probable 
that  the  major  was  suffering  for  the  want  of  his  dinner,  or 
from  some  vexation  not  apparent  to  the  casual  observer. 
Somers  wanted  his  dinner ;  not  as  an  epicure  is  im- 
patient for  the  feast  which  is  to  tickle  his  palate,  but  as  a 
man  who  knows  and  feels  that  meat  is  strength.     His 
health  was  not  yet  sufficiently  established  to  enable  him 
to  endure  the   hardship   of  an   empty  stomach;  for  his 
muscles  seemed,   in    his   present  weak  state,   to   derive 
their  power  more  directly  than  usual  from  that  important 
organ.     He  did  not,  therefore,  worry  himself  to  obtain  a 
solution  of  what  was  singular  in  the  conduct  of  the  lady 
and  her  lover. 


48  FIGHTING    JOE,  'OR 

They  were  absent  but  a  few  momeuts  before  the  major 
returned.  If  he  had  been  gone  seven  years,  and  passed 
through  a  Parisian  polishing  school  iu  the  interim,  his 
tone  and  his  manner  could  not  have  been  more  effectually 
changed.  He  looked  and  acted  more  Uke  the  Major 
Ixigglestou  of  yesterday.  He  was  all  suavity  now  ;  and, 
what  was  vastly  more  remarkable,  his  memory  was  as 
perfect  as  though  he  had  made  mnemonics  the  study  of 
a  lifetime.  He  remembered  all  about  the  skirmish  on 
the  road,  and  even  recalled  incidents  connected  with  that 
affair  of  which  Somers  was  profoundly  ignorant. 

"  Captain  Somers,  that  was  the  hardest  fight  for  a 
little  one  I  ever  happened  to  be  in,"  said  the  major,  after 
the  event  had  been  thoroughly  rehearsed. 

"  It  was  sharp  for  a  few  moments.  By  the  way, 
major,  what  is  your  opinion  of  Alick  now?"  asked 
Somers. 

"  Well,  I  was  rather  surprised  to  see  him  go  in  as  he 
did.     He  is  a  brave  fellow." 

"So  he  is  ;  I  did  not  know  whether  he  would  fight  or 
not ;  but  I  thought  he  would." 

"  O,  I  was  sure  of  it." 

*' Were  you?  Before  the  fight  you  seemed  to  be  of 
the  opinion  that  he  was  of  no  account." 

"  That  was  said  concernin"^  nijrorers  in  general.  I 
always  had  a  great  deal  of  confidence  in  Alick.  When 
he  fired  his  gun  I  knew  what  the  boy  meant." 


THE    FOn  TUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  49 

"  His  pistol,  you  mean  ;  he  had  no  gun." 

*'  You  are  right ;  it  was  a  pistol,"  said  the  major,  with 
more  confusion  than  this  trifling  inaccuracy  justified. 

"  In  the  pursuit  of  the  guerillas  —  " 

"  Yes,  in  the  pursuit  Alick  was  splendid,"  continued 
Riggleston,  taking  the  words  out  of  Somers's  mouth. 

"  You  forget,  major  ;  you  conducted  the  pursuit  alone," 
mildly  added  the  staff  officer. 

"  O,  yes  !  so  I  did.  I  am  mixing  up  this  matter  with 
another  affair,  in  which  my  boy  Mingo  chased  the  Yan- 
kees —  " 

"Chased  the  what?"  interposed  Somers,  confounded 
\)y  this  singular  and  inappropriate  remark. 

"  The  guerillas,  I  said,"  laughed  the  major.  "  What 
did  you  think  I  said  ?  " 

"  I  understood  you  to  say  the  Yankees." 

"  0,  no  !  Yankees?  No  ;  I  am  one  myself.  I  said 
guerillas." 

*'  If  you  did,  I  misunderstood  you." 

"  Of  course  I  didn't  say  Yankees.  That  is  quite  im- 
possible." 

Somers  was  disposed  to  be  polite,  even  at  the  sacrifice 
of  the  point  of  veracity ;  therefore  he  did  not  contradict 
his  companion,  though  he  felt  entirely  certain  in  regard 
to  the  language  used. 

"  Of  course  you  could  not  have  meant  Yankees,  what- 
ever you  said,"  added  Somers. 
5 


50  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

' "  Certainly  not.  Do  you  know  why  I  didn't  catch 
those  —  those  guerillas  ?  "  continued  the  major. 

"  I  do  not,"  replied  Somers  ;  but  he  had  a  strong  sus- 
picion that  it  was  because  he  did  not  want  to  catch  them  ; 
because  it  would  have  been  imprudent  for  him  to  catch 
them ;  because  it  would  have  been  in  the  highest  deirree 
dangerous  for  him  to  catch  them. 

"  I'll  tell  you  why  I  didn't  catch  them,"  added  the 
major,  rubbing  his  hands  as  a  man  does  when  he  has  a 
point  to  make.  "  It  was  because  their  liorses  went  faster 
than  mine." 

"  Good  !  "  exclaimed  Somers,  who  had  the  judgment 
to  perceive  that  this  answer  was  intended  as  a  joke,  and 
who  was  politic  enough  to  render  the  homage  due  to  such 
a  tremendous  effort  —  a  laugh,  as  earnest  as  the  circum- 
stances would  permit. 

"  Or  possibly  it  was  because  my  horse  went  slower 
than  theirs,"  added  the  major,  with  the  evident  design  of 
perpetrating  a  joke  even  more  stupendous  than  the  last. 

"We  beg  to  suggest  to  our  readers,  young  and  old,  that 
a  person  lays  himself  open  more  by  his  jokes,  his  puns, 
and  his  witticisms,  than  by  any  other  means  of  com- 
munication between  one  soul  and  another  with  which 
we  are  acquainted.  Hear  a  man  talk  about  business, 
politics,  morality,  or  religion,  and  you  have  a  very  in- 
adequate idea  of  his  moral  and  mental  resources.  Hear 
him  jest,  hear  him  make  a  pun,  hear  him  indulge  in  a 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  TjI 

witticism,  and  you  have  his  brains  mapped  out  before  you. 
We  have  heard  a  man  get  off  a  -witticism,  and  felt  an 
infinite  contempt  for  him  ;  we  have  heard  a  man  get 
off  a  -witticism,  and  felt  a  profound  respect  for  him.  It 
is  not  the  thing  said  ;  it  is  not  the  manner  in  which  it  is 
said  ;  it  is  not  the  look  with  which  it  is  said.  It  is  all 
three  combined.  lie  who  would  conceal  himself  from 
those  around  him  should  neither  get  drunk  nor  attempt 
to  be  funny. 

Major  Riggleston  had  revealed  himself  to  Captain 
Somers  more  completely  in  that  unguarded  joke  than  in 
all  that  had  passed  between  them  before.  The  young 
staff  officer  was  not  a  moral  nor  a  mental  philosopher  ;  but 
that  agonizing  jest  had  given  him  a  poorer  opinion  of  his 
companion  than  he  had  before  entertained.  It  was  for- 
tunate for  the  major  that  Miss  Hasbrouk  returned  before 
he  had  an  opportunity  to  launch  another  witticism  upon 
the  sea  of  the  captain's  charity,  or  the  latter  might  have 
prematurely  learned  to  despise  him. 

"  AVe  have  ngt  lately  been  honored  by  the  voluntary 
presence  of  gentlemen  at  dinner.  Captain  Somers  ;  and 
you  will  pardon  me  for  lingering  an  extra  moment  before 
my  glass,"  said  the  merry  lady. 

*'  Happy  glass  !  "  replied  Somers.  ' 
"  Thank  you,  captain  ;  that  was  very  pretty." 
"  Excellent ! "  added   the   major,  who   seemed  to  be 
hungering  and  thirsting  for  something  funny  or  smart. 


52  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

A  bell  rang  in  the  hall,  which  Somers  took  to  be  the  sum- 
mons for  dinner ;  and  he  was  thankful,  and  took  courage 
accordingly ;  for  however  much  he  enjoyed  the  society 
of  the  fascinating  Maud,  he  could  not  forget  that  he 
owed  a  solemn  duty  to  the  outraged  member  of  his  body 
corporate,  which  had  been  kept  fasting  since  an  early 
breakfast  hour. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  shall  I  have  the  pleasure  of  con- 
ducting you  to  the  dining-room?"  continued  Miss  Has- 
brouk. 

*'  Thank  you.'* 

"  Your  arm,  if  you  please,  Captain  Somers,"  said  the 
brilliant  lady. 

Of  course  Somers  complied  Avith  this  reasonable  re- 
quest, though  he  had  not  been  in  the  habit  of  observing 
these  little  courtesies  at  the  cottage  in  Pinchbrook,  nor 
even  in  some  of  the  best  regulated  families  at  the  Harbor, 
making  no  little  pretensions  to  gentility.  It  seemed  to 
him  that  it  would  have  been  more  proper,  in  the  present 
instance,  and  with  the  supposed  relation  between  them, 
for  the  lady  to  take  the  arm  of  the  gentleman  to  whom 
she  was  engaged  ;  but  he  had  not  very  recently  read  any 
book  on  the  etiquette  of  good  society,  and  he  was  utterly 
unable  to  settle  the  difficult  question. 

They  passed  through  the  hall  and  entered  the  dining- 
room.  The  table  was  laid  for  only  three  ;  and  while 
Somers   was   wondering  where   the   rest    of   the   family 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  53 

were,  a  tremendous  knocking  was  heard  at  the  front 
door. 

"  Somebody  is  in  earnest,"  said  Maud.  *'  He  knocks 
like  a  sheriff  who  comes  with  authority.  Take  this  seat, 
if  you  please,  captain." 

*'  Thank  you,  Miss  Hasbrouk,"  replied  Somers,  as  he 
took  the  appointed  place. 

*'  I  hope  that  isn't  any  one  after  me,"  added  the  major, 
as  he  seated  himself  opposite  to  Somers.  "  I  don't  want 
to  lose  my  dinner." 

"  You  shall  not  lose  it,  major,"  answered  Maud,  as  a 
colored  servant  entered  the  room  with  a  salver  in  his 
hand,  on  which  lay  a  letter. 

**•  For  Major  Riggleston,"  said  the  man,  as  he  pre- 
sented the  salver  to  him. 

The  major  took  the  letter  and  broke  the  seal,  apolo- 
gizing to  Somers  for  doing  so.  His  eyes  suddenly  opened 
wider  than  their  natural  spread,  and  his  chiij  dropped  till 
mouth  and  eyes  were  both  eloquent  with  astonishment. 
He  sprang  out  of  his  chair,  and  assumed  an  attitude  in 
the  highest  degree  dramatic.  Somers  almost  expected 
to  hear  him  perpetrate  a  witticism. ' 

'''What  is  it,  major?"  demanded  Maud,  who  seemed 
to  be  enduring  the  most  agonizing  suspense. 

"  I  must  go  this  instant ! "  exclaimed  the  major,  still 
gazing  at  the  momentous  letter. 

"  What  has  happened?  " 


54  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  Don't  ask  me,  Maud,"  answered  he,  in  excited  tones. 
"  I  will  be  back  before  night ;  perhaps  in  an  hour.  You 
will  excuse  me.  Captain  Somers." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Somers. 

The  major  rushed  to  the  door,  cramming  the  letter 
into  his  pocket,  or  attempting  to  do  so,  as  he  moved  off. 
The  document  fell  on  the  floor  without  the  owner's  notice. 

''What  can  it  mean?"  said  Maud,  with  a  troubled 
look. 

Somers  did  not  know  what  it  meant ;  if  he  had,  it  is 
doubtful  whether  he  would  have  had  the  temerity  to  stop 
to  dinner. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF    A     STAFF   OFFICER.  55 


CHAPTER    V. 


THE    BOOT    ON    ONE    LEG. 


HAT  can  have  happened?"  said  Maud, 
apparently  musing  on  the  event  which  had 
>'  just  transpired.  "  The  major  is  not  often 
moved  so  deeply  as  he  appeared  to  be  just  now.'* 

"  Something  of  importance,  evidently,"  said  Somers. 
'*  He  has  dropped  the  letter  on  the  floor." 

"  So  he  has,"  said  she,  glancing  at  the  document. 
*'  Thus  far  I  have  resisted  the  propensity  of  Mother  Eve 
to  know  more  than  the  law  allows  ;  and  I  think  I  will  not 
yield  to  it  now.  It  would  hardly  be  honorable  for  me  to 
read  the  letter  after  the  major  has  declined  to  inform  me 
what  has  occurred.  But,  whatever  it  may  be,  we  will 
have  some  dinner." 

"Whatever  opinions  Somers  may  have  entertained  on 
some  of  the  other  points  suggested  by  the  fair  hostess, 
he  had  none  in  regard  to  the  last  proposition.  He  was 
absolutely  and  heartily  in  favor  of  the  dinner,  without 
regard  to  Mother  Eve's  curiosity,  or  her  favored  repre- 
sentative then  before  him.     The  dinner  was  a  good  one, 


56  .    FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

though  the  rebels  had  so  recently  gathered  up  all  the 
provision  which  the  country  appeared  to  contain.  With 
every  mouthful  that  he  ate  Somers's  strength  seemed 
mysteriously  to  return  to  him. 

The  dinner  was  not  so  formal  as  might  have  been 
expected  in  the  house  of  a  Maryland  grandee,  and  did 
not  occupy  over  half  an  hour ;  but  in  that  half  hour  he 
had  grown  strong  and  vigorous  again,  and  felt  equal  to 
any  emergency  which  might  occur.  However  agree.able 
the  society  of  the  fascinating  Maud  had  proved,  he 
began  to  be  very  impatient  for  the  moment  when  he 
could,  without  outraging  the  laws  of  propriety,  break  the 
spell  which  bound  him.  He  had  faithfully  discharged 
his  duty  to  the  inner  man,  and  he  bethought  him  that  he 
owed  another  and  higher  obligation  to  his  country  ;  that 
the  commanding  general  of  the  first  army  corps  was 
expecting  to  hear  from  him,  though  the  time  given  him 
to  complete  his  mission  had  not  yet  expired. 

"While  he  was  considering  some  fit  excuse  with  which 
to  tear  himself  away  from  his  interesting  companion,  — 
for  it  was  not  prudent  to  inform  an  avowed  rebel  lady 
that  he  had  been  engaged  in  collecting  information  for 
the  use  of  a  Union  general,  and  must  return  to  report 
the  result  of  his  mission,  —  while  he  was  thinking  what 
he  should  say  to  her,  he  heard  something  which  sounded 
marvellously  like  the  tramp  of  horses'  feet  on  the  walks 
which  surrounded  the  mansion.      These  sounds  might 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  0( 

have  beeu  siiflicicDt  to  create  a  tempest  of  alarm  iu  his 
minil  if  he  had  not  believed  that  he  was  far  enough  from 
the  camps  of  the  rebels  to  insure  the  estate  from  a  visit 
of  their  cavalry.  lie  did  not  know  exactly  where 
he  was  iu  relation  to  the  line  of  either  army ;  but  he  felt 
a  reasonable  assurance  that  he  was  out  of  the  reach  of 
danger  from  the  enemy. 

lie  listened,  therefore,  with  tolerable  coolness,  to  the 
clatter  of  the  horses'  feet,  and  finally  concluded  that  the 
animals  belonged  to  the  estate.  This  conclusion,  how- 
ever, was  soon  unpleasantly  disturbed  by  other  and  more 
suspicious  sounds  than  the  tramp  of  horses  —  sounds  like 
the  clatter  and  clang  of  cavalry  equipments.  More  than 
this,  Maud  looked  anxious  and  excited,  when  -there 
appeared  to  be  not  the  least  reason  for  anxiety  and 
excitement  on  her  part. 

"  AVon't  you  take  another  peach,  captain?"  said  she, 
glancing  uneasily  at  the  window,  and  then  at  the  door. 

"  No  more,  I  thank  you.  Miss  Hasbrouk,"  replied 
Somers.     "  You  seem  to  be  having  more  visitors." 

"  No,  I  think  not,"  answered  she,  with  assumed  care- 
lessness. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  those  sounds,  then?  " 

"  They  are  nothing ;  perhaps  some  of  the  servants 
leading  the  horses  down  to  the  meadow." 

"  Do  your  horses  wear  cavalry  trappings,  Miss 
Hasbrouk?" 


58  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

"  Not  that  I  am  aware  of.  Do  you  think  there  is  any 
cavalry  around  the  house  ?  '* 

*'  I  am  decidedly  of  that  opinion  ;  and,  with  your  per- 
mission, I  will  step  out  and  learn  the  occasion  of  this 
visit,"  said  he,  rising  from  the  table,  and  making  sure 
that  the  two  revolvers  he  wore  in  his  belt  were  in 
working  order. 

"  I  beg  you  will  not  leave  me.  Captain  Somers," 
remonstrated  Maud. 

"I  only  wish  to  ascertain  what  the  cavalry  are." 

"  I  depend  upon  you  for  protection,  captain,"  said  she, 
as  she  rose  from  her  seat  at  the  table.  "  Ah,  here  comes 
some  one,  who  will  explain  it  all  to  you,"  she  added,  as 
the  front  door  was  heard  to  open  rather  violently. 

"  I  think  it  won't  need  much  explanation,"  replied 
Somers,  as  through  the  window  he  discovered  two  gray- 
back  cavalrymen.  "  It  is  quite  evident  that  the  house  is 
surrounded  by  rebel  cavalry." 

At  this  moment  the  door  of  the  dining-room  opened, 
and  Major  Riggleston  stalked  into  the  apartment.  He 
looked  at  Somers,  and  then  at  the  lady.  The  troubled, 
astonished  expression  on  his  face  when  he  went  away  had 
disappeared,  and  he  wore  what  the  staff  officer  could  not 
help  interpreting  as  a  smile  of  triumph. 

"Well,  Maud,  how  is  it  now?"  asked  the  major, 
as  for  the  sixth  time,  at  least,  he  glanced  from  Somers 
to  her. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF   OFFICER.  59 

The  brilliant  beauty  made  no  reply  to  this  indefinite 
question.  Instead  of  speaking  as  a  civilized  lady  should 
■v^'heu  addressed  by  her  accepted  lover,  she  threw  herself 
into  a  chair  with  an  abandon  which  would  have  been 
creditable  in  a  first  lady  in  a  first-class  comedy,  but 
■which  was  highly  discreditable  in  a  first-class  lady  dis- 
charging only  the  duties  of  the  social  amenities  in  refined 
society.  She  threw  herself  into  a  chair,  and  laughed  as 
though  she  had  been  suddenly  seized  with  a  fit  of  that 
playful  species  of  hysterics  which  manifests  itself  in  the 
cachinnatory  tendency  of  the  patient. 

Somers  was  surprised.  A  less  susceptible  person  than 
himself  would  have  been  surprised  to  see  an  elegant  and 
accomplished  lady  laugh  so  violently,  when  there  was 
apparently  nothing  in  the  world  to  laugh  at.  He  could 
not  understand  it ;  a  wiser  and  more  experienced  person 
than  Somers  could  not  understand  it.  He  knew  about 
CEdipus,  and  the  Sphinx's  riddle  which  he  solved  ;  but  if 
CEdipus  had  been  there,  in  that  mansion  of  a  Maryland 
grandee,  Somers  would  have  defied  him  to  solve  the 
riddle  of  Miss  Maud  Hasbrouk's  inordinate,  excessive, 
hysterical  laughter.  If  Major  Riggleston,  from  the  great 
depository  of  unborn  humor  in  his  subtle  brain,  had 
launched  forth  one  of  the  most  tremendous  of  his  thun- 
derbolts of  wit,  the  mystery  would  have  solved  itself. 
If  the  major  had  uttered  anything  but  the  most  common- 
place and  easily  interpreted  remark,  Somers  might  have 


60  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

believed  that  he  had  perpetrated  a  joke  which  he  was  not 
keen  enough  to  perceive. 

The  house  was  surrounded  by  rebel  cavalry  ;  that  was 
no  joke  to  him  ;  it  could  be  no  joke  to  the  major,  for  he 
was  an  officer  in  the  Maryland  Home  Brigade,  "  on 
detached  service,"  and  what  proved  dangerous  or  fatal  to 
one  must  prove  dangerous  or  fatal  to  the  other.  But 
Riggleston  did  not  seem  to  be  in  the  least  disturbed 
by  the  circumstance  that  the  house  was  environed  by 
Confederate  cavalry.  He  stood  looking  at  his  lady-love, 
as  though  he  was  waiting  her  next  move  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  game. 

"  What  are  you  laughing  at,  Maud?"  asked  he,  when 
he  had  watched  her  until  his  own  patience  was  somewhat 
tried,  and  that  of  Somers  had  become  decidedly  shaky. 

"  Isn't  it  funny?  "  gasped  she,  struggling  for  utterance 
between  the  spasms  of  laughter. 

"  Yes,  it  is,  very  funny,"  replied  he,  obediently,  though 
it  was  quite  plain  that  he  did  not  regard  the  scene  as  so 
excruciatingly  amusing  as  the  lady  did. 

"  Why  don't  you  laugh,  then?  " 

"I  would  if  I  had  time;  but  I  must  proceed  to 
business." 

"  Don't  spoil  the  scene  yet,"  said  she,  with  difficulty. 

"  Hurry  it  up,  then,  Maud." 

"  Captain  Somers,"  added  she,  repressing  her  laughter 
to  a  more  reasonable  limit,  "  I  am  your  most  obedient 
servant." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  61 

"  Thank  you,  Miss  Hasbrouk,"  replied  he,  beginning 
to  apprehend,  for  the  first  time,  that  he  was  individually 
and  personally  responsible  for  the  joke  which  had  so 
excited  the  lady's  risibles.  "  If  you  are,  you  will  oblige 
me  by  informing  me  what  you  are  laughing  at." 

The  lady  broke  forth  anew,  and  peal  on  peal  of  laughter 
rang  through  the  room.  Somers  tried  to  think  what  he 
had  said  or  done  that  was  so  astoundingly  funny,  satis- 
fied that  his  humor  would  certainly  make  his  fortune 
when  given  a  wider  field  of  operations.  It  was  evident 
that  it  would  not  do  for  him  to  be  as  funny  as  he  could 
tliereafter  in  the  presence  of  ladies,  or  one  of  them  mi<Tht 
yet  die  of  hysterics. 

*'  Do  you  really  wish  to  know  what  I  am  laughing  at, 
Captain  Somers?"  asked  she,  at  another  brief  interval 
of  apparent  sanity. 

"  That  is  what  I  particularly  desire." 

"  I  am  laughing  at  the  situation.  Do  you  know  that 
there  is  something  irresistibly  ludicrous  in  situations, 
captain?  I  delight  in  situations  —  funny  situations  I 
mean." 

'•  Really,  I  don't  see  anything  very  amusing  in  the 
present  situation,"  replied  the  puzzled  staff  officer. 

"Don't   you,    indeed?      Well,  I'm    afraid   you  won't 
appreciate  the  situation  from  your  stand-point.      What 
a  pity  we  haven't  a  photographer  to  give  us  the  scene, 
for  future  inspection  !  " 
6 


62  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

*•'  "Well,  Miss  Hasbrouk,  you  seem  to  be  making  your- 
self very  merry  at  my  expense.  I  am  happy  to  have 
afforded  you  so  much  amusement ;  but  I  fear  I  am  still 
your  debtor  for  the  bountiful  hospitality  of  your  house." 

"  Don't  mention  it,  captain ;  and  you  Avon't  wish  to 
mention  it  a  few  hours  hence." 

"  I  assure  you  I  shall  ever  gratefully  remember  your 
kindness  to  me." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  laughed  the  maiden. 

"  Captain  Somers,"  interposed  the  major,  "  I  think  we 
have  carried  the  joke  far  enough  ;  and  we  will  now  pro- 
ceed to  the  serious  part  of  the  business.  In  one  word, 
you  —  " 

"  Stop,  Major  Riggle'^ton,  if  you  please,"  interrupted 
Maud.     "  This  is  my  affiiir." 

"  Hurry  it  along  a  little  faster,  then,  if  you  will, 
Maud.     The  people  outside  will   get  tired   of  waiting." 

'••  Don't  you  interfere,  major.  You  forget  that  you  are 
a  Union  officer,  belonging  to  the  Maryland  Home  Bri- 
gade. Captain  Somers  insists  that  you  are  ;  and  of  course 
you  are." 

"  Of  course  I  am ;  I  had  almost  forgotten  that  little 
circumstance,"  laughed  the  major. 

"  Well,  Miss  Hasbrouk,  since  you  are  to  manage  the 
affair,  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  what  it  all  means," 
demanded  Somers,  with  the  least  evidence  of  impatience 
in  his  tones. 


THE  FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  63 

*'  With  the  f^eatest  pleasure ;  witli  a  pleasure  which 
you  cannot  yet  appreciate,  I  will  inform  you  all  about  it. 
But,  my  denr  Captain  Somers,  in  deference  to  a  lady  who 
has    admired    you,   fttccl    you,    dined    you,    you     will 
answer  a  few  questions  which   I  shall  propose  to  you, 
before  I  proceed  to  the  explanation." 
"  Be  in  haste,  Maud,"  said  the  major. 
"Mnjor    Riggleston,    if   you    hurry   me,    I    shall    be 
obliged  to  ask  you  to  leave  the  room,"  answered    she, 
with  a  resumption  of  the  imperial  dignity  she  had  par- 
tially abandoned. 
"  I'm  dumb,  Maud." 

"  Keep  so,  then.  Now,  Captain  Somers,  you  are  one 
of  the  heroes  of  the  Yankee  army ;  a  down-east  pink  of 
chivalry.  At  Petersburg  you  were  within- the  Confederate 
lines  doing  duty  as  a  spy.  First  question  :  Is  this  so  ?  " 
"  That  would  be  for  a  rebel  court-martial  to  prove,  if 
I  should  happen  to  be  captured." 

*'  First  question  evaded.  Taking  advantage  of  the 
hospitality  and  kindness  of  Dr.  Scoville,  who  had  pledged 
liis  honor  that  you  should  be  delivered  up  to  the  proper 
authorities  as  soon  as  you  were  able  to  be  moved,  you 
escaped  from  his  custody.  Second  question:  Is  this 
true?" 

'•  I  was  under  no  pledge,  and  was  not  paroled." 
'•  Second  question  evaded.     You  are  on  the  staff  of 
the  general  of  the  first  army  corps,  and  you  have  been     - 


64  FIGHTING  JOE,    OR 

sent  out  to  procure  information.  Third  question  :  Is  this 
true?" 

"  You  have  said  it ;  not  I." 

"  Third  question  evaded.  By  your  own  confession, 
made  to  me  yesterday,  within  the  Federal  lines,  you  are 
a  spy.  You  have  resorted  to  certain  Yankee  tricks  to 
escape  the  penalty  of  your  misdeeds.  Now  —  fourth 
question  :  Would  it  not  be  fair  to  capture  you  by  re- 
sorting to  a  trick  such  as  those  you  have  practised  ?  " 

"  It  would  depend  on  the  trick." 

"  Fourth  question  evaded.  You  have  abused  the 
sacred  rites  of  hospitality  at  the  "  mansion  of  Dr. 
Scoville,  in  Virginia.  Should  you  regard  it  as  any- 
thing more  —  fifth  question  —  than  diamond  cut  dia- 
mond, if  you  should  be  captured  in  Maryland  by  a 
similar  abuse   of  the  sacred  rites  of  hospitality  ?  " 

"  That  would  depend  on  circumstances." 

"  Fifth  question  evaded.  All  of  them  evaded,  as  I 
supposed  all  of  them  would  be  ;  for  a  Yankee  can  no 
more  avoid  prevarication  than  he  can  avoid  talking 
through  his  nose." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  handsome  compliment.  I  cannot 
forget  that  I  am  speaking  to  a  lady,  and  therefore  I  can 
make  no  answer,"  replied  Somers,  with  gentle  dignity, 
as  he  bowed  to  the  tormentor. 

"  That  is  more  than  I  expected  of  a  Yankee,"  said 
Maud,  a  slight  flush   upon  her  fair  cheek  assuring  her 


THE    FOllTLSES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFICER. 


<oh 


victim  that  his  rebuke  had  been  felt.  *'  I  am  a  lady  ; 
but  before  the  lady,  I  am  the  Confederate  woman,  having 
a  cause  dearer  to  my  heart  than  anything  save  only  I 
woman's  honor." 

She  spoke  proudly,  and  her  head  rested  with  imperial 
grandeur  on  her  neck  as  she  uttered  her  impressive 
words. 

*^  Now,  Captain  Somers,  you  understand  my  position, 
and  you  understand  your  own  position,"  she  continued. 
"  I  invited  you  to  dine  with  me  for  a  purpose.  That 
purpose  is  now  reached.  The  house  is  surrounded  by 
Confederate  cavaky.  Captain  Somers,  you  are  a 
prisoner !  " 

6* 


66  FlQHTiyG    JOE,    OB 


CHAPTER    Yl. 


THE    BOOT    ON    THE    OTHER    LEG. 

WOXG  before  the  imperial,  and  no-\v  imperious, 
lady  announced  the  conclusion  of  the  "svhole  mat- 
/  ^^►'  ter,  Sbmers  realized  that  he  "vvas  the  victim  of  a 
conspiracy ;  that  he  had  been  invited  to  dinner 
in  order  to  procure  his  capture.  He  had  listened  to  the 
fallacious  argument  embodied  in  the  five  questions,  and 
was  prepared  to  refute  it  if  occasion  required.  He  had 
no  difficulty  in  perceiving  that  he  had  got  into  trouble. 
The  house  "vvas  surrounded  by  a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry, 
and  it  -would  be  folly  to  attempt  to  light  his  way  through 
them. 

Nevertheless,  Somers  had  coolly  and  decisively  made 
up  his  mind  not  to  be  a  prisoner.  He  had  been  invited 
into  the  house  under  the  guise  of  friendship.  The  lady 
had  pretended  to  cherish  an  excellent  feeling,  amounting 
almost  to  admiration,  towards  him  ;  had  treated  him  as  a 
friend,  and  detained  him  until  the  cavalry  could  be  sent 
for.  The  trap  had  been  set,  and  he  had  certainly  fallen 
into  it.     The  circumstances  were  not  at  all  like  those 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  C7 

under  which  he  head  entered  the  house  of  Dr.  Scoville  ; 
he  had  not  been  invited  there;  he  had  gone  in:  as  a 
hunted  fugitive,  and  the  host  had  received  and  taken  care 
of  him  without  any  pledge,  expressed  or  implied,  on  his 
part,  or  that  of  Captain  de  Banyan,  who  accompanied 
him.  His  conscience,  therefore,  did  not  reproach  him 
for  any  violation  of  the  law  of  hospitality. 

^'  You  are  a  prisoner,  Captain  Somers,  I  repeat,"  said 
Maud  —  "  my  prisoner,  if  you  please." 

"  Miss  Hasbrouk,  I  have  always  cherished  a  foclino- 
of  admiration  and  regard  for  the  ladies  ;  but  I  regret,  iu 
the  present  instance,  to  be  compelled  to  contradict  you. 
I  am  not  a  prisoner,  if  you  will  excuse  me  for  saying 
so,"  replied  Somers,  calmly. 

"  The  house  is  surrounded  by  Confederate  cavalry," 
added  she.  "  It  only  remains  for  me  to  call  them  in  and 
end  this  scene." 

*'  Allow  me  to  observe  that  the  part  which  remains 
will  be  infinitely  more  difficult  than  the  part  ah-eady  per- 
formed." 

"Am  I  to  understand.  Captain  Somers,  that  you 
propose  to  resist  twenty  men,  who  stand  ready  to 
capture  you?"  demanded  the  lady,  with  a  triumphant 
smile. 

"  Excuse  me  if  I  evade  that  question  also  for  the 
present.  Perhaps  you  will  still  further  pardon  me,  if, 
in  this  delicate  and  difficult  business,  I  venture  to  ask 


68  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

you  a  few  questions,  which  you  will  answer  or  evade,  a3 
you  please." 

"  With  great  pleasure  I  submit  to  be  questioned.  Cap- 
tain Somers,"  answered  she,  with  a  merry  twinkle  in 
her  eyes,  which  told  how  much  she  still  enjoyed  the 
"  situation." 

"  Thank  you,  Miss  Hasbrouk.  You  are  one  of  those 
brawling  rebel  women  who  have  done  so  much  to  keep 
up  the  spirits  of  the  chivalry  in  this  iniquitous  rebellion. 
You  are  one  of  the  feminine  Don  Quixotes  who-have 
unsexed  themselves  in  the  cause  of  treason  and  sla- 
very." 

"  I  will  not  hear  this,  if  you  will,  Maud.  Sir ! " 
exclaimed  the  major,  advancing  towards  the  bold  and 
ungallant  speaker,  '"  your  foul  mouth  —  " 

**•  Stand  where  you  are,  Major  Riggleston ! "  said 
Somers,  fiercely,  as  he  pointed  a  pistol  at  his  head.  *'  If 
you  stir  a  step,  or  open  your  mouth  again,  you  are  a 
dead  man ! " 

The  major  seemed  to  be  taken  all  aback  by  this  de- 
cided demonstration.  He  had  no  pistol  about  him  ;  and 
though  he  was  a  "  fighting  man,"  Somers  was  pretty  well 
satisfied  that  he  would  "  hold  still"  until  it  was  safe  for 
him  to  move.  Judging  from  her  looks,  Maud  seemed  to 
be  taking  a  slightly  dilferent  view  of  the  situation. 

"  Excuse  my  rude  words,  Miss  Hasbrouk,"  continued 
the  captain,  with  a  gentle  inclination  of  the  head.     "  As 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  C9 

this  is  your  affair,  I  will   tliauk  this  gentleman  not  to 
interfere.     Shall  I  repeat  what  I  said  before?" 
"  It  is  not  necessary,"  replied  she,  coldly. 
"  Then  avc  will  proceed.     First  question :  Did  I  cor- 
rectly state  your  position?'' 

"  Is  a  woman  who  strengthens  the  hearts  of  those 
who  are  fighting  for  the  right  to  exist  —  " 

*'  First  question  evaded,"  interposed  Somers.  "  You 
invited  me  to  this  house  ;  and,  by  the  laws  of  hospitality, 
which  even  the  heathen  respect,  you  were  impliedly 
pledged  to  treat  me  as  a  friend,  and  not  as  a  foe.  Second 
question  :  Is  this  so  ?  " 

"  Did  you  learn  to  respect  the  law  of  hospitality  at 
Dr.  Scoville's  ?  "  sneered  she. 

**  Second  question  evaded.  Dr.  Scoville  made  no 
pledges  to  me,  nor  I  to  him.  Ko  person  can  blame  me 
for  leaving  his  house  when  I  got  ready.  Accepting  his 
hospitality  and  his  kindness  did  not  pledge  me  to  go  to  a 
Confederate  dungeon,  where  prisoners  are  systematically 
murdered.  ■  To  proceed :  By  your  own  confession  you 
invited  me  to  dine  in  order  to  make  me  a  prisoner,  and 
take  my  life  by  having  me  hanged  as  a  spy.  If  you 
sought  to  capture  me  by  a  trick,  would  it  not  — third 
question  —  be  equally  fair  for  me  to  escape  by  a  trick?" 
*'  But  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  you  to  escape,"  re- 
plied she,  glancing  through  the  window  at  the  cavalry  on 
the  lawn. 


70  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  Third  question  evaded.  You  are  a  lady  ;  and  as  such, 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  you  arc  entitled  to  bo 
treated  Avith  the  delicacy  and  consideration  due  to  your 
Gex.  But  as  you  have  ceased  to  be  a  non-combatant,  — 
■which  you  were  sorely  against  3'our  "vvill,  and  arc  now 
actively  engaged  in  the  war,  conducting  tlic  business  of 
capturing  a  prisoner,  — under  these  circumstances,  would 
it  not  be  entirely  fair  for  me  to  treat  you  as  a  combatant, 
precisely  the  same  as  though  you  had  not  unsexed  your- 
self, and  were  a  man  ?  " 

"  You  seem  to  have  already  forgotten  what  is  due  to  a 
lady,"  replied  she,  her  cheek  flushed  with  anger. 

"  Fourth  question  evaded." 

"  Sir,  I  decline  to  hear  any  more  of  this  coarse 
abuse  !  "  exclaimed  she,  stamping  her  foot. 

''  Indulge  me  for  one  moment  more,  and  I  will  en- 
deavor as  much  as  possible  to  avoid  talking  through  my 
nose,  and  making  pretensions  as  a  hero  of  the  Yankee 
army,  or  a  down-east  pink  of  chivalry." 

Perhaps  the  imperial  beauty  thought  that  these  ex- 
pressions, borrowed  from  her  own  elegant  discourse,  were 
not  especially  refined  for  a  lady  to  use  ;  it  may  be  that 
they  sounded  coarse  on  a  repetition,  but  she  made  no  ac- 
knowledgment to  that  effect. 

"  Your  silence  consents  :  thank  vou.  Miss  Ilasbrouk, 
you  speak  with  chivalrous  contempt  of  what  you  are 
pleased  to  term  '  Yankee  tricks  ;  *  at  the  same  time,  you 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  71 

were  thrown  into  spasms  of  laughter  by  the  apparent 
success  of  one  of  your  own  tricks.  Now,  permit  mc  to 
ask  whether  you  would  equally  appreciate  —  fifth  ques- 
tion—  a  trick  quite  as  smart  as  your  own?" 

"•  You  liavc  insulted  me  long  enough,  sir ! "  replied 
she,  haughtily.     "  Now,  sir  —  " 

"  Fifth  question  evaded.     I  have  no  more  to  ask." 

"  Now,  sir,  I  will  hand  you  over  to  your  masters," 
said  she,  moving  a  step  towards  the  door. 

"  Excuse  me  if  I  take  the  liberty  to  decline  being 
handed  over  to  my  masters,"  said  Somers,  stepping  be- 
tween her  and  the  door,  and  now  occupying  a  position 
between  the  lady  and  the  discomfited  major. 

"  Sir,  what  do  you  mean?"  demanded  the  lady,  her 
bosom  heaving  with  angry  emotions,  as  she  found  herself 
confronted  by  the  young  officer,  who  looked  as  firm  and 
immovable  as  a  mountain  of  granite. 

''  I  mean  all  that  I  say,  and  much  more,"  answered 
he,  with  an  emphasis  which  she  could  not  fail  to  under- 
stand. 

"  Sir,  I  desire  to  pass  out  at  that  door." 

"  I  positively  forbid  your  passing  out  at  that  door." 

"  Sir !  "  gasped  she,  almost  overcome  by  her  angry 
passions. 

"  Miss  Ilasbrouk  !  "  replied  he,  bowing. 

"  You  are  no  gentleman  I  " 

**  When  I  came  here  I  regarded  you  as  a  lady,  and 


72  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  your  sex.  What  I 
think  now  I  shall  keep  to  myself." 

*'  I  shall  go  mad  !  " 

"  I  hope  not ;  though  I  fear  you  have  been  tending  in 
that  direction  for  the  last  hour." 

*'  Major  Riggleston  !  "  cried  she,  turning  to  her  lover, 
*'  will  you  stand  there  and  permit  mc  to  be  insulted  in 
this  manner  ?  " 

"  Major  Eigglcston  idll  stand  there.  If  he  moves 
hand  or  foot,  or  opens  his  mouth  to  speak,  I  will  blow 
his  brains  out.  He  is  a  villain  and  a  traitor,  and  of 
course  he  is  a  coward ! " 

The  major  winced  under  these  strong  words ;  but 
there  Avas  death  in  the  sharp,  snapping  eye  of  the  young 
officer,  and  he  dared  not  move  hand  or  foot,  or  even 
speak.  Perhaps  he  thought  that,  as  the  lady  had  in- 
sisted on  managing  the  affair  herself,  it  was  quite  proper 
that  she  should  be  induls^ed  to  the  end. 

"  I  can  endure  this  no  longer  !  "  exclaimed  Maud,  as 
she  took  auother  step  towards  the  door  for  the  purpose 
of  calling  in  the  troopers. 

*'  Stop,  Miss  Hasbrouk !  "  said  Somers,  pointing  a 
pistol  at  her  head  with  his  right  hand,  while  that  in  his 
left  was  ready  to  dispose  of  the  major. 

"Is  it  possible  that  you  can  raise  your  weapon  against 
a  woman  ? "  cried  she,  shrinking  back  from  the  gaping 
muzzle  of  the  pistol. 


The  Boot  on  the  other  Le^. 

r.-iffo  7,'. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  73 

**  Let  us  understand  each  other,  Miss  Hasbrouk.  I 
am  not  to  be  captured.  If  you  attempt  to  leave  the 
room,  or  to  call  in  the  rebel  soldiers,  I  will  shoot  you,  as 
gently  and  considerately  as  the  deed  can  be  done  ;  but  I 
Avill  shoot  you,  as  surely  as  you  stand  tliere  and  I  stand 
here." 

He  cocked  the  pistol.  She  heard  the  click  of  the 
hammer.     She  stood  in  mortal  terror  of  her  life. 

''  You  forget  that  I  am  a  woman,"  said  she,  in  tones 
of  alarm. 

''  I  did  not  forget  it  until  you  had  forgotten  it  your- 
self," answered  Somers.  "  You  have  abused  and  in- 
sulted me.  Under  the  guise  of  friendship  you  are 
attempting  to  hand  me  over  to  death  by  my  enemies. 
Did  you  think  I  would  be  dropped  gently  into  the  arms 
of  the  rebels,  and  be  hung  as  a  spy?  If  you  insist  on 
pursuing  your  plan  to  the  end,  it  will  be  death  to  you  or 
death  to  me.  I  am  not  quite  willing  to  die  for  any  rebel 
woman,  and  especially  not  for  one  who  is  seeking  my 
life.  It  would  grieve  me  to  shoot  one  so  fair  and  fasci- 
natinsr  as  Miss  Hasbrouk ;  I  should  remember  it  with 
sorrow  to  the  end  of  my  days  ;  but  my  duty  to  myself 
and  my  country  requires  the  sacrifice,  and  I  would  shoot 
you  if  it  broke  my  heart." 

"Are  you  in  earnest.  Captain  Somers?"  asked  she, 
still  struo^glinjj  under  the  violence  of  her  emotions. 

"  Maud,"  said  the  major. 
7 


74  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

"Silence,  sir!"  added  the  captain,  sternly.  "Miss 
Plasbroiik,  I  am  in  earnest.  The  situation  has  changed. 
Would  ^-ou  like  a  photographer  to  preserve  the  scene  for 
future  inspection  ?  " 

"  You  -would  not  kill  me?" 

"  I  Avould,  as  you  -would  kill  me." 

"  But  the  soldiers  are  impatient  outside,  and  they  may 
come  in  -without  my  call,"  suggested  she,  glancing  at  the 
-window,  -while  every  muscle  in  her  frame  shook  -with 
terror. 

"  If  they  do,  it  will  cost  you  your  life,  unless  they  are 
more  reasonable  than  you  arc." 

"  Good  Heaven  !     You  mean  to  murder  me?  " 

"  Not  if  I  can  help  it.  When  I  fire,  it  -will  be  from  a 
solemn  sense  of  duty  ;  for  your  cutthroats  would  hang  me 
to  the  nearest  tree  if  they  knew  as  much  of  me  as  you  do." 

"  What  shall  I  do?"  asked  she,  wildly,  as  she  looked 
around  the  room. 

"  Xow  you  arc  reasonable.  Let  your  servant  bring 
pen,  ink,  and  paper." 

She  ordered  the  man  who  had  waited  on  the  table  to 
bring  the  required  articles,  and  Somers  gave  him  a 
chaa'ge  to  be  discreet  as  he  left  the  room.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments he  returned  with  the  writing  materials,  and  laid 
them  on  the  table.  The  negro  was  even  more  terrified 
than  the  lady,  and  there  was  no  fear  that  he  -would  ven- 
ture upon  any  bold  enterprise. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  75 

"  Now,  Major  Ri^^gleston,  sit  down  at  the  table,"  said 
Somcrs.  '•  You  -will  remain  -where  you  are,  Miss  Ilas- 
brouk."  .       • 

*'  Wliat  am  I  to  do?"  asked  the  major. 
*'  You  will  write  what  I  dictate.     Did  you  call  this 
cavalry  ?  " 
"  I  did." 

"  Then  you  arc  a  loyal  Marylander  with  a  vengeance, 
and  a  worthy  officer  of  the  Marlyand  Home  Brigade  ; 
but  I  will  M'arrant  there  is  not  another  such  a  scoundrel 
in  the  organization." 

*'  That  is  a  personal  insult,  for  which  —  " 
*'  Silence,  sir.     "Who  commands  the  cavalry  outside  ?  " 
*'  A  sergeant." 
"  How  many  men  has  he  ?  " 
"  Twenty." 

*'  Xow  write.  '  Sergeant :  The  matter  upon  which  I 
called  you  was  all  a  mistake.  Your  services  will  not  bo 
required,  and  you  will  retire  from  the  house  without  de-k 
lay.'     Sign  it  as  you  please." 

Somers  looked  over  his  shoulder  to  satisfy  himself  that 
the  major  wrote  what  he  said,  and  nothing  else. 

*'  It  is  possible  we  may  get  through  this  business  with- 
out shooting  either  one  of  you,"  added  the  captain,  as 
the  scribe  folded  up  the  note.  "  Give  the  paper  to  tho 
servant." 

"  Go  to  the  frojt  door,  boy,  and  deliver  this  note  to 


76  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

the  sergeant  in  command  of  the  squad  of  cavaby,"  con- 
tinued Somers. 

"  Yes,  sar." 

"  Stop  a  moment.  You  are  not  to  say  a  word  to 
him." 

"  No,  sar." 

"  If  one  of  those  soldiers  should  come  into  the  house, 
it  might  cost  your  mistress  her  life." 

"  De  Lo'd  forbid,  massa  !  " 

"  Do  you  understand  me,  boy?" 

"  Yes,  sar.     Dey  shan't  come  in,  massa,  no  how." 

He  departed  on  his  mission.  Somers  still  stood  in  the 
attitude  for  action,  and  Maud  and  the  major  looked  as 
cheap  and  as  chapfallen  as  though  they  had  not  another 
hope  in  the  world.  They  waited  with  even  more  im- 
patience than  the  captain  for  the  departure  of  the  cav- 
alry, both  of  them  fearing  that  some  unfortunate  accident 
might  bring  the  desperate  young  man  to  the  execution 
of  his  horrible  threat. 

The  sergeant  outside  was,  luckily,  not  of  an  inquiring 
mind.  The  clatter  of  horses'  feet  and  the  clanking  of 
sabres  were  heard  again,  and  the  cavalry  dashed  down 
the  road  to  more  hopeful  scenes. 


• 

THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER. 


CHAPTER    VII. 


SOUTH    MOUNTArN". 


►^OMERS  returned  the  pistols  to  his  belt  as  he 
listened  to  the  sounds  of  the  retreating  cavalry. 
This  action  on  his  part  seemed  to  afford  Maud 
and  tlie  major  an  immense  relief.  Death  no  longer 
stared  them  in  the  face,  and  both  of  them  began  to  grow 
bold  again. 

*'  Now,  Major  Riggleston,  when  you  see  your  uncle, 
Dr.  Scoville,  again,  you  will  have  a  story  to  tell  him," 
said  Somers. 

"  I  shall  not  be  likely  to  tell  him  of  it." 

*'  I  think  we  have  obtained  some  new  ideas  concernin"^ 
the  Yankees,  to-day,"  added  Maud,  spitefully.  "  I  had 
supposed  their  making  war  on  women  and  children  was 
merely  a  poetic  figure  ;  but  it  appears  to  be  literally 
true." 

*'  Pray,  am  I  to  regard  you  as  a  woman  or  a  child, 
Miss  Ilasbrouk?"  asked  Somers  ;  "  or  as  both?  " 

*'  I  hope    I  shall   have   the   pleasure    of   seeing   you 
banged ! "  exclaimed  she,  with  compressed  lips. 
7* 


78  FIGHTIXO    JOE,    OP, 

"That's  the  seDtiment  of  a  "woman,  rather  than  a 
child,"  laughed  Somers. 

"  How  long  before  "vvc  shall  be  rid  of  your  presence, 
Captain  Somers?" 

"  How  long  Avill  it  take  your  servants  to  bring  up  the 
horse  and  chaise  in  which  I  saw  you  arrive  ?  " 

*'  Not  ten  minutes  ;  if  that  will  facilitate  your  depart- 
ure, the  chaise  shall  be  brought  up  instantly,"  replied  she', 
directing  the  waiter  present  to  give  the  stable  boys  the 
necessary  orders. 

"  Thank  3'ou,  Miss  Hasbrouk.  May  I  trouble  you 
also  to  get  ready  to  accompany  me  ?  " 

"  Accompany  you,  sir  !  " 

"  I  do  not  regard,  myself  as  entirely  safe  yet,"  replied 
the  staff  officer,  taking  one  of  the  pistols  from  his  belt. 
*'  Before  I  am  out  of  sight,  my  friend  the  major  may  feel 
justified  in  calling  for  the  cavalry  again." 

"  They  are  five  miles  off,  or  will  be  by  the  time  you 
have  started,"  said  the  major. 

"  I  think  not.  "When  I  fall  among  people  who  arc  as 
sharp  as  you  arc,  I  always  use  extraordinary  precautions. 
It  is  part  of  my  purpose  that  you  should  go  with  us,  my 
dear  major." 

"  Go  where?  "  demanded  the  traitor,  intensely  alarmed. 

"  I  will  not  trouble  the  lady  tO;go  any  farther  than  the 
farm-house  where  I  left  my  horse.  In  regard  to  yourself, 
I  shall  have  to  insist  upon  3'our  going  with  me  to  head- 
quarters." • 


THE    FOUTiWES     OF    A    STAFF    OFFICE Ji.  79 

*' Why  SO?" 

*'  You  are  a  traitor  of  the  blackest  stamp,  and  it  is 
quite  proper  that  you  should  be  attended  to  before  you 
have  done  any  more  mischief." 

''  You  are  quite  mistaken,  Captain  Somers.    I  am  —  " 

*'  I  will  pledge  myself  not  to  prevent  your  escape,"  in- 
terposed Maud,  apparently  unwilling  that  the  major 
should  say  too  much, 

*'  Excuse  me,  if,  after  what  has  happened,  I  decline  to 
trust  you." 

"  This  is  insolent,  sir." 

*'  It  is  open  to  that  construction,  I  admit,"  said  Somers, 
as  he  picked  up  the  letter  which  the  major  had  read  with 
so  much  astonishment. 

It  was  a  blank  sheet,  but  the  direction  on  the  outside 
was  in  a  lady's  handwriting,  evidently  Maud's.  It  was 
nothing  but  a  "  blind,"  to  afford  a  reasonable  pretence 
for  the  major's  sudden  departure.  Somers  put  it  in  his 
pocket  for  future  reference. 

•'  The  chaise  is  ready,  captain,"  said  Maud. 

"  So  am  I ;  but  you  are  not." 

"  My  hat  and  shawl  arc  in  the  entry,"  she  replied, 
sullenly. 

They  passed  out  of  the  house  when  she  had  robed 
herself  for  the  ride.    Somers  assisted  her  into  the  vehicle. 

*'  "\\  here  is  the  major?"  asked  he,  turning  to  the  spot 
•where  he  had  stood  a  moment  before.    Maud's  reply  was 


80  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

a  silvery  laugh,  which  "vvas  a  sufficient  explanation  that 
he  had  taken  himself  off. 

"So  much  the  better,"  said  Somers.  "Good  after- 
noon, Miss  Hasbrouk,"  he  added,  as  he  walked  rapidly 
up  the  road,  in  the  direction  of  the  farm-house. 

She  was  so  surprised  by  this  sudden  and  unexpected 
change  in  the  programme,  that  she  could  make  no  reply. 
She  did  not  know  whether  the  movement  boded  good  or 
evil ;  whether  the  captain  had  gone  in  pursuit  of  the 
major,  or  to  the  place  where  he  had  left  his  horse. 

Somers,  when  he  discovered  that  the  major  had  escaped 
him,  was  afraid  to  trust  himself  in  the  family  chaise, 
w^hich  would  too  surely  betray  his  laovements  to  a  pur- 
suing force,  if  the  traitor  could  find  one  in  the  vicinity. 
He  decided  that  it  would  be  safer  for  him  to  walk,  and 
then  he  could  avoid  the  public  road  if  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  do  so.  Though  he  would  have  been  glad  to 
hand  the  treacherous  scoundrel  over  to  the  military 
authorities  for  punishment  as  a  deserter,  or  for  giving  aid 
and  comfort  to  the  enemy,  he  would  have  been  a  great 
encumbrance  to  him  on  the  road.  As  events  often  happen 
for  the  best,  he  consoled  himself  with  the  belief  that  the 
traitor's  escape  was  not  the  worst  thing  that  could  have 
occurred. 

He  walked  rapidly  till  he  obtained  his  horse.  What- 
ever his  late  friends  had  done  to  secure  his  capture,  he 
was  not  molested  on  the  road,  nor  did  he  discover  any 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  81 

pursuers  behind  him.  His  horse  was  fresh,  after  the 
long  rest  he  had  had,  and  Somers  rode  at  a  break-neck 
gait  till  he  reached  the  headquarters  of  the  general.  On 
the  way,  after  he  had  carefully  arranged  in  his  mind  the 
information  he  had  obtained,  he  could  not  help  thinking 
over  the  exciting  events  of  the  afternoon.  Major  Rig- 
gleston's  conduct  was  very  strange.  On  the  preceding 
day  he  had  been  a  loyal  soldier  ;  now  he  was  apparently 
in  full  sympathy  with  the  rebels.  It  was  a  sudden 
change,   if  it  was  a  change  at  all. 

But  the  major,  like  a  lobster,  had  a  lady  in  his  head, 
and  it  was  quite  impossible  to  tell  what  a  major  or  a 
lobster  would  do,  with  a  lady  in  his  head.  Somers  had 
met  the  beauty  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Riggleston,  in  Fred- 
crick.  They  had  ridden  over  to  her  home  that  morning 
in  the  chaise  ;  and  the  best  solution  which  he  could  give 
of  the  matter  was,  that  Maud  had  converted  him  from 
one  side  to  the  other.  As  this  seemed  to  be  a  satisfactory 
explanation  of  the  singular  conduct  of  the  fighting  man, 
he  was  satisfied  with  it,  and  gave  the  subject  no  further 
consideration. 

His  ride  was  not  so  long  as  it  had  been  in  the  morn- 
ing, for  the  army  had  advanced  some  miles  ;  and  at  sun- 
set Somers  reported  his  information  to  the  general.  He 
also  told  his  story  about  the  attempt  which  had  been 
made  to  capture  him,  and  in  the  course  of  his  narrative 
involved  the  loyal  major  of  the  Maryland  Home  Brigade 


82  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

in  trouble  and  dishonor.  The  general  was  not  a  little 
amused  at  the  story,  and  hoped  other  officers,  who  were 
invited  to  dinner  by  fair  rebel  ladies,  and  then  entrapped, 
would  resort  to  similar  strategy.  But  the  information 
which  Somers  brought  was  the  most  interesting  and 
valuable  part  of  the  proceeds  of  his  trip,  and  the  general 
was  soon  busy  in  the  study  of  his  maps  in  the  new  light 
he  had  obtained. 

The  next  day  was  Sunday ;  but  it  was  not  the  quiet 
sabbath  of  the  soul  that  rests  the  body,  and  renews  tlie 
spirit's  waning  hope  ;  it  was  a  day  of  storm  and  battle  — 
a  day  of  death  and  destruction.  Somers  performed  his 
first  staff  duty  in  the  field  on  this  occasion.  During  the 
forenoon  the  artillery  thundered  along  the  range  of  the 
South  Mountain.  The  enemy  was  posted  on  the  steeps, 
and  all  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  on  both  sides  of 
the  Cumberland  road,  which  is  the  direct  route  to  the 
Upper  Potomac.  Beyond  the  hills  were  the  wagon  and 
ammunition  trains  of  the  rebels,  as  well  as  the  more 
considerable  portion  of  their  army.  The  possession  of 
this  road  was  necessary  to  their  safety,  as  well  as  to  the 
success  of  their  grand  scheme  of  carrying  on  a  war  of 
invasion. 

The  battle  was  opened  by  the  corps  of  General  Reno, 
next  to  which  in  the  line  of  march  was  the  first  army 
corps.  During  the  early  part  of  the  day,  the  action  was 
fought  with  artillery,  and  was  an  attempt  to  dislodge  the 


THE    FORTUXKS    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  83 

enemy  from  the  strong  position  they  had  taken.  Tiic 
slope  of  the  mountain  was  rugged,  consisting  of  irregular 
ledges,  and  the  whole  covered  with  wood,  which  grew  out 
of  the  interstices  of  the  rocks,  and  on  the  shelves 
where  there  was  earth  enough  to  give  life  to  a  tree.  In 
these  woods  and  among  these  rocks  the  rebels  were 
located,  —  infantry  and  sharpshooters,  —  while  their  can- 
non were  placed  in  such  positions  that  they  commanded 
all  the  approaches  to  the  Gap,  through  which  the  road 
passed. 

An  attack  of  inftintry  Avas  ordered,  and  the  gallant 
fellows  went  forward  with  alacrity  to  execute  the  com- 
mand. They  rushed  boldly  up  the  steeps,  to  a  stone  wall 
behind  which  the  main  line  of  the  enemy  rested,  driving 
the  skirmishers  before  them.  Torrents  of  blood  flowed, 
and  moistened  the  soil  where  hundreds  of  brave  fellows 
gave  up  their  lives  ;  but  they  won  the  ground,  and  held 
it.  The  rebels  fought  with  desperation,  and  their  gen- 
erals rallied  them  in  vain  to  do  what  could  not  be  done. 

Partial  successes  and  partial  reverses  occurred  in 
different  parts  of  the  line  until  noon,  when  the  artillery 
alone  was  actively  engaged.  The  day  was  not  yet  won, 
and  hundreds  more  were  to  fall  on  the  field  before 
the  obstinate  foe  would  yield  the  position. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  head  of  the  first 
army  corps  appeared,  which  had  been  ordered  forward 
by  General  McCiellan  to  the  support  of   Reno's  hard- 


84  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

pressed  forces.  As  "  Fighting  Joe"  appeared  before  the 
lines,  the  utmost  enthusiasm  was  manifested  by  the  troops. 
They  cheered  him  as  though  he  had  already  saved 
the  day.  The  general  was  examining  the  ground.  His 
quick  eye  had  already  grasped  the  situation.  He  had 
been  ordered  by  the  general  commanding  to  make  a  feint 
in  favor  of  Burnside's  forces  ;  but,  satisfied  that  an  attack 
on  the  south  side  of  the  road  would  not  be  a  suc- 
cess, he  turned  his  attention  to  that  portion  of  the  rebel 
line  at  the  north  of  the  road,  which  had  been  reported 
upon  by  Captain  Somers. 

The  general  proceeded,  as  he  always  did,  directly  to 
the  front.  He  seemed  to  know  precisely  what  he  was 
about,  and  to  have  all  his  force  entirely  in  hand.  Then 
he  began  to  send  off  his  orders,  and  the  members  of  his 
staff  were  dashing  about  in  every  direction,  till  the  line 
w^as  formed.  Batteries  were  posted  behind  the  troops, 
and  the  shot  and  shell  whizzed  through  the  air  over  the 
soldiers'  heads.  The  order  to  advance  was  given ;  the 
line  moved  up  the  precipitous  steeps,  and  for  half  an  hour 
the  battle  raged  with  tremendous  fury. 

Somers  found  every  instant  of  his  time  occupied,  as  he 
dashed  from  one  division  to  another ;  w^hile  shot,  shell, 
and  bullets  flew  through  the  air  like  hailstones.  Kind 
Providence  protected  him  again,  as  it  had  before,  and  he 
escaped  all  injury.  On  marched  the  victorious  line,  con- 
quering every   obstacle,   and   driving  the    rebels  before 


THE    FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  85 

them  ;  but  it  was  long  after  dark  before  the  red  field  was 
entirely  won,  and  the  Union  troops  were  in  possession  of 
the  crests  of  the  mountain. 

*'  Captain  Somers,  you  have  done  admirably,  and  fully 
justified  my  selection  of  you  for  the  important  and  dilB- 
cult  position  to  which  you  have  been  assigned." 

Somers  bowed,  and  felt  as  happy  as  though  he  had 
commanded  the  successful  army. 

"  One  more  task  to-night,  captain.  You  will  ride  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  army,  give  my  compliments  to 
General  McClellan,  and  inform  him  that  we  have  carried 
the  position,  and  routed  the  enemy." 

Somers  saluted  the  general,  and  urged  forward  his 
weary  horse  towards  Middletown.  He  found  the  com- 
mander-in-chief still  in  the  saddle,  and  delivered  his  mes- 
sa"re.  He  was  directed  to  bear  the  concrratulations  of 
General  McClellan  to  the  commander  of  the  first  army 
corps  on  his  success,  with  instructions  to  follow  up  the 
retreating  rebels,  and  to  employ  General  Richardson's 
division,  which  had  been  sent  forward  to  report  to  him, 
in  this  work,  if  the  condition  of  his  own  troops  re- 
quired it. 

Somers  made  his  salute,  and  was  riding  off,  thinking 
over  what  had  just  been  said  to  him,  as  he  had  learned 
to  do  when  sent  on  an  errand  in  his  childhood.  He  was 
fully  absorbed  in  his  thoughts,  when  a  voice  pronounced 
his  name. 

8 


8Q  FIGHT JXG    JOE,    OR 

"  Captain  Somers,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  again,"  said 
an  olficer,  urging  forward  his  horse  to  intercept  him. 

Somers  looked  at  him,  and  was  not  a  little  surprised, 
in  the  darkness  of  the  evening,  to  recognize  Major  llig- 
gleston,  who  appeared  to  be  one  of  the  numerous  staff  of 
the  commanding  general.  Perhaps  it  was  fortunate  for 
the  messenger  that  he  had  already  faithfully  conned  his 
errand,  or  the  appearance  of  the  traitor  would  have 
forever  driven  it  from  his   mind. 

"  Major  Riggleston  !  "  exclaimed  he,  hardly  able  to 
believe   the  evidence  of  his  own  senses. 

It  was  plain,  after  all,  that  he  had  not  been  fully  con- 
verted to  the  rebel  faith  by  the  blandishments  of  the 
beautiful  Maud  ;  but  lie  was  occupying  a  worse  and  more 
disgraceful  position,  in  Somers's  estimation,  than  to  have 
stood  square  up  with  the  enemies  of  the  country.  It  was 
most  audacious  in  the  major  to  hail  him,  after  what  had 
occurred  at  the  mansion  of  the  Maryland  gi'andee,  and 
Somers  regarded  him  not  only  as  a  rebel,  but  as  the 
stupidest  rebel  he  had  ever  met. 

'•The  same,  my  boy,"  replied  the  major,  familiarly. 
"  Ride  on,  and  I  will  go  with  you  a  short  distance,  to 
hear  the   news.     They   say  Reno  was  killed." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  it  is  true,"  replied  Somers,  coldly. 

"  He  was  a  brave  fellow,  and  a  splendid  soldier.  You 
must  have  had  a  warm  time  over  there." 

"  Rather." 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  87 

*' You  are  tired,  arn't  you,  old  fellow?  Can't  you 
talk?" 

"  Not  much  to  you,"  answered  Somcrs,  bluntly. 

"To  me?  AVhy,  what  the  dickens  is  the  matter?" 
demanded  the  major,  with  apparent  surprise. 

"  The  matter,  indeed  !  How  does  it  happen  that  you 
are  here  ?  " 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  be  here,  old  boy?" 

"  After  the  affair  of  yesterday  — '* 

"  What  affair  of  yesterday?  " 

Tlie  major  had  entirely  lost  his  memory  again.  He 
had  not  heard  a  word  about  the  adventure  at  the  mansion 
of  Maud's  father. 


88  FIGHTING   JOE,    OB 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

BEFORE  THE  GREAT  BATTLE. 

/-VAPTAIX  SOBERS  was  as  tlioronglily  bewil- 
/  I  dered  as  he  would  have  been  if  the  mountains 
^^Jy  around  him  had  suddenly  commenced  dancing  a 
hornpipe  ;  or  if  the  trees,  horses,  and  men  before  him 
had  turned  bottom  upwards,  and  the  whole  order  of  na- 
ture had  been  reversed.  He  was  entirely  satisfied,  on 
reflection,  that  the  event  of  the  preceding  afternoon  had 
been  a  reality ;  entirely  satisfied  that  Major  Riggleston 
had  been  a  party  to  the  infamous  conspiracy  by  which 
the  fair  Maud  had  sought  to  capture  him ;  and  the  un- 
blushing impudence  of  his  companion  in  denying  it 
passed  his  comprehension. 

"  I  think  you  must  be  dreaming,  Captain  Somers," 
said  the  major,  with  a  light  laugh. 

"  Either  I  am,  or  you  are  ;  I  will  not  pretend  to  say 
which,"  replied  Somers,  almost  convinced  by  the  words, 
and  especially  by  the  easy  assurance  of  the  major,  that 
no  attempt  had  been  made  to  capture  him  ;  that  no  such 
person  as  Maud  Hasbrouk  had  an  existence. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  89 

But  of  course  the  traitor  -would  deny  his  guilt ;  that 
was  to  be  expected.  It  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  he 
would  enjfasre  in  such  a  nefarious  scheme  as  that  which 
had  been  exhibited  at  the  llasbrouk  house,  and  then  con- 
fess his  participation  in  it.  The  major  had  actually  re- 
turned to  the  Union  lines,  and  had  the  temerity  to  take 
his  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  defenders  of  the  Union, 
even  while  he  was,  not  only  in  heart,  but  openly,  engaged 
in  the  service  of  treason  and  rebellion. 

"  Now,  captain,  let  us  be  friends,"  continued  the  ma- 
jor ;  "  for  it  really  seems  to  me  that  you  are  disposed  to 
provoke  a  quarrel  with  me." 

"  I  cannot  be  the  friend  of  one  who  is  an  enemy  to  his 
country,"  replied  Somers,  stiffly,  and  with  a  proper  dis- 
play of  dignity. 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I  don't  understand  you." 

"  Don't  understand  me.  Major  Riggleston  ?  "  Somers 
began  to  be  stern  and  savage. 

"  Upon  my  word  I  do  not,"  protested  the  major,  ear- 
nestly. "  If  you  insist  on  picking  a  quarrel  with  me, 
pray  tell  me  what  it  is  all  about." 

"  This  is  aU  idle  talk,  sir." 

"  You  have  accused  me  of  being  an  enemy  to  my 
country."     The  major  began  to  be  slightly  indignant. 

*'  Most  distinctly  I  accuse  you  of  it." 

"  That's  a  CTave  charfje." 

"  I  am  aware  of  it ;  and  I  speak  advisedly  when  I 
8* 


90  FIGHT  J XG    JOE,    OR 

make  it.  If  I  had  met  General  Lee  himself  within  our 
lines,  I  should  not  liavc  been  more  astonished  than  I  Avas 
to  see  yon,  after  -what  lias  happened." 

'*  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  mc  Avhat  has  hap- 
pened?" demanded  the  accused  olllcer,  manifesting  no 
little  excitement. 

"At  no  distant  day  I  shall  do  so  before  a  court- 
martial." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Have  yoii  any  doubt  "whatever  in  regard  to  my 
meaninir?" 

"  Upon  my  word  and  honor  as  an  officer  and  a  gentle- 
man, I  liave  not  the  remotest  idea  what  you  mean." 

"  Major  Riggleston,  if  the  nature  of  my  mission  would 
permit,  I  would  return  to  the  headquarters  of  the  com- 
manding general  and  denounce  you  as  a  traitor." 

"  Captain  Somers,  those  are  words  which  no  man  can 
use  to  me  with  impunity,"  replied  the  major,  indignantly. 
"  I  shall  hold  you  personally  responsible  for  them." 

"  I  am  willing  to  be  held  personally  responsible  for 
what  I  say," 'answered  Somers,  coolly.  "  If  you  mean 
violence  by  that  remark,  I  shall  not  be  off  my  guard." 

"  Captain  Somers,  you  are  a  brave  man.  You  have 
proved  yourself  to  be  a  brave  and  true  man,"  said  the 
major,  with  more  calmness.  "  I  think  you  are  too  noble 
a  fellow  to  vilify  me  without  giving  me  an  opportunity  to 
defend  myself." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  91 

*'  Of  course  you  -will  have  an  opportunity  to  defend 
yourself." 

*'  You  propose  to  denounce  me  as  a  traitor,  you  say." 
"  I  do." 

"  You  are  aware  that  the  people  of  my  state  are 
divided  on  the  great  question  that  now  disturbs  the 
country  ;  consequently  a  charge,  however  weak  and  un- 
founded, against  me,  Avould  find  plenty  of  believers.  I 
have  enemies.     All  I  demand  is  fair  play." 

"  You  shall  have  it,  major ;  for,  deadly  as  you  have 
injured  me,  or  attempted  to  injure  me,  I  assure  you  I 
bear  no  personal  ill  Avill  towards  you." 

*'  Thank  you  for  so  much  ;  but  you  say  I  have  at- 
tempted to  injure  you.  I  am  not  conscious  of  any  such 
attempt." 

"Major  Riggleston,  this  is  all  idle  talk  while  you 
assume  that  position  —  while  you  pretend  to  be  ignorant 
of  the  matter  with  which  I  charge  you  ;  and  I  must 
decline  holding  any  further  intercourse  with  you  at  pres- 
ent. Let  me  add,  however,  that  I  Avill  not  make 
charges  until  you  are  present  to  defend  yourself." 

"  So  far  your  conduct  is  honorable  ;  if  you  would  go 
a  step  farther,  and  state  distinctly  with  what  you  charge 
me,  I  should  be  infinitely  obliged  to  you." 

"  That  is  useless.  From  a  gentleman  I  should  not  ex- 
pect such  duplicity  as  you  exhibit  in  pretending  to  know 
nothing  about  the  charge." 


92  FIGHTIXO    JOE,    OR 

"  I  have  pledged  you  my  honor  that  I  don't  know 
what  you  mean  ;  that  I  am  not  conscious  of  having 
given  you  any  offence,  much  less  done  anything  which 
can  justify  you  in  calling  me  a  traitor." 

"Do  you  know  Miss  Maud  Hasbrouk?"  demanded 
Somers. 

"  Of  course  I  know  her.  You  are  perfectly  aware 
that,  though  she  is  a  rebel,  she  is  a  friend  of  our  family." 

"  Good  night,  Major  Riggleston,"  said  Somers,  as  he 
put  spurs  to  his  ^teed,  and  dashed  down  the  hill,  leaving 
his  companion  to  infer  what  he  meant  from  his  connec- 
tion with  the  lady,  if  he  needed  anything  to  enable  him 
to  explain  the  nature  of  the  charge. 

The  staff  officer  was  excited  and  indignant  that  the 
traitor  should  attempt  such  a  bold  and  foolish  subterfuge. 
It  was  almost  incredible  that  he  should  have  the  audacity 
to  pretend  that  he  did  not  know  what  the  charge  meant. 
There  was  no  room  for  a  doubt  or  a  mistake.  The  ma- 
jor had  positively  received  the  blank  letter  ;  had  positively 
gone  after  the  rebel  cavalry ;  had  positively  sustained 
Maud  in  her  attempt  to  capture  him.  It  was  not  pos- 
sible, therefore,  that  he  had  done  the  culprit  any  injustice. 

Thus  assured  that  he  had  not  wronged  the  major.  Cap- 
tain Somers  again  turned  his  attention  to  the  message 
which  he  was  to  deliver  to  his  general,  and  urged  forward 
his  weary  horse  at  his  best  speed.  He  found  the  troops 
of  "  Fighting  Joe"  resting  from  the  hard-fought  action, 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  93 

nud  cngaixt'd  in  preparing  tlieir  simple  supper  of  coflTee 
and  "  hard  tack."  lie  delivered  the  orders  of  the  com- 
manding general,  and  the  division  of  Richardson  was 
accordingly  sent  forward  to  pursue  the, fleeing  rebels. 

Early  on  the  following  morning  the  army  advanced, 
and  Somers  found  no  time  to  think  of  private  grievances. 
The  general  did  much  of  his  own  reconnoitring  on  this 
occasion,  though  the  members  of  his  staff  were  kept  con- 
stantly employed.  The  enemy  had  fallen  back  in  dis- 
order from  South  Mountain ;  but  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon  the  advance  of  the  first  corps  came  up  with  the 
position  which  the  rebels  had  taken,  to  dispute  the  far- 
ther progress  of  the  now  victorious  army.  But  the  gen- 
eral had  not  at  this  time  a  sufficient  force  to  make  an 
attack.  Antietam  Creelj  lay  between  the  two  armies  ;. 
and  the  bridge  over  it  at  this  point  was  protected  by 
the  batteries  which  the  rebels  had  planted  to  defend  it. 

The  enemy,  in  two  lines  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek, 
were  believed  to  consist  of  fifty  thousand  men  ;  and  the 
brave  general  impatiently  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  rest 
of  the  corps.  It  looked  like  an  opportunity  to  fight  a 
successful  battle,  and  he  was  determined  to  cross  the 
stream  at  the  first  practicable  moment. 

*'  General,  the  enemy  are.  breaking  into  column  and 
marching  towards  Williamsport,"  said  Somers,  as  he 
rode  up  from  the  point  at  which  he  had  been  surveying 
the  movement  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek. 


94  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

*'  They  arc  on  the  retreat,  then,"  replied  the  gsneral. 

Captain  Somcrs  and  an  officer  of  the  engineers  Avere 
then  sent  to  examine  the  creek  in  search  of  a  ford  by 
Avhich  to  transfer  the  troops  to  the  other  side  as  soon 
as  the  force  of  the  rebels  should  be  sufficiently  reduced 
to  justify  an  attack.  The  general  chafed  under  the  re- 
straint Avhich  the  circumstances  imposed  upon  him  ;  but 
he  was  too  prudent  to  risk  an  attack  while  the  advantage 
was  so  strongly  against  him.  A  ford  was  found  near 
a  mill,  farther  up  the  creek,  and  the  olHcers  reported  the 
fact ;  but  the  arrival  of  the  commanding  general  at  this 
time  prevented  "Fighting  Joe"  from  ordering  an  ad- 
vance. 

The  corps  remained  at  this  place  until  the  afternoon 
,of  the  next  day,  when  orders  came  to  cross  the  creek. 
The  troops  proceeded  up  the  stream,  and  went  over  by  a 
bridge  and  by  the  fords  which  had  been  examined  by  the 
staff  officers.  .  The  outposts  of  the  enemy  were  soon  dis- 
covered and  driven  in,  and  the"  gallant  corps  continued  to 
push  the  force  in  front  till  it  was  too  dark  to  proceed  any 
farther,  at  which  time  the  resistance  was  fully  equal  to 
the  power  of  the  advancing  host.  This  was  the  night 
before  the  great  battle  of  Antietam. 

The  weary  troops  lay  down  to  rest  in  the  cornfields 
•where  they  had  halted.  The  rebels  were  close  by,  and 
the  pickets  of  the  two  armies  were  within  gunshot  range 
of  each  other.     There  was  no  rest  yet  for  the  general 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  95 

and  his  staff;  for  it  was  evident  that  a  great  battle  was 
to  be  fought  on  the  morrow  —  a  battle  on  which  the 
destinies  of  the  Union  depended.  It'  the  grand  army  of 
the  Potomac  was  defeated,  there  would  be  nothing  to 
stay  the  march  of  the  invaders.  The  fair  fields  and  the 
prosperous  cities  and  towns  of  the  North  would  then  be 
open  to  them.  The  great  heart  of  the  nation,  beating 
timidly  as  the  rebel  hordes  advanced,  sickened  by  pre- 
vious disasters,  might  sink  into  despondency,  and  the 
bright  hopes  of  a  great  people  be  forever  crushed.  It 
was  no  time  for  the  brain  of  the  army  to  slumber. 

*'  "SVe  want  information,"  said  the  general,  after  he 
had  sent  an  aid  to  General  McClcllan  to  announce  his 
intention  to  attack  the  enemy  at  the  earliest  dawn. 

The  commander  of  the  first  army  corps  always  wanted 
information,  for  he  never  moved  in  the  dark.  His  brain 
and  his  arm  were  twin  brothers  in  the  conflict.  Somers 
and  Barkwood  volunteered  to  procure  the  information, 
and  left  the  headquarters  for  this  purpose.  It  was  use- 
less to  attempt  to  penetrate  the  heavy  picket  line  of  the 
rebels  in  the  cornfields,  and  they  descended  the  hill  be- 
yond a  farm-house,  till  they  came  to  a  ravine  through 
which  flowed  a  considerable  volume  of  water. 

"  Here's  our  chance,"  said  Somers,  in  a  low  tone. 

"  Thai's  so  ;  but  you  know  I  am  a  great  coward,  and 
this  looks  like  risky  business,"  replied  Ca|5tain  Bark- 
wood. 


96  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  If  you  are,  I  think  there  is  no  need  of  more  than 
one  of  us  going  through." 

"  O,  my  dear  fellow,  I  will  go  with  you." 

*'  I  think  it  would  be  safer  for  us  both  to  separate 
*here." 

"  I  agree  with  you." 

"  Then  I  will  take  this  ravine,  and  you  may  see  what 
you  can  find  farther  to  the  north." 

*'  Good !  Now  be  scientific,  my  boy  ;  we  want  to 
know  the  topography  of  the  country  as  well  as  the  po- 
sition of  the  enemy." 

"  Certainly ;  I  think  I  understand  what  is  required," 
replied  Somers,  as  he  descended  the  steep  bank  of  the 
ravine  into  the  water. 

The  banks  of  the  stream  were  of  course  occupied  by 
the  pickets  of  the  two  armies,  and  his  course  led  him 
through  both  of  them.  He  was  just  as  much  exposed  to 
a  shot  from  one  as  from  the  other.  Somers  was  a  man 
of  experience  in  this  business.  He  had  earned  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  scout,  and  had  on  three  occasions  brought  in 
information  of  the  utmost  value  to  the  Union  commanders. 
Indeed,  his  skill  in  mis  particular  branch  had  procured 
for  him  his  promotion  and  his  present  honorable  position 
on  the  staff  of  "  Fighting  Joe."  He  was  now  to  under- 
take a  fearful  risk  —  more  fearful,  perhaps,  than  any  he 
had  before  incurred ;  but  the  greater  the  danger,  the 
more  valuable  the  service  rendered ;  and  the  result  of 


THE    FOn TUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  97 

to-morrow's  battle  might  depcDtl  upou  the  fidelity  with 
which  he  discharged  his  ditheult  duty. 

He  wore  his  loug  boots,  and  he  continued  to  feel  his 
way  ou  the  verge  of  the  stream,  without  going  in  beyond 
his  depth.  The  ravine  was  fringed  with  a  thick  growth 
of  bushes,  which  shielded  him  from  the  observation  of 
the  pickets  ;  but  the  slightest  sound  would  expose  him 
to  the  fire  of  the  men.  In  many  places  the  trees  formed 
an  arch  over  the  brook,  and  the  darkness  was  so  dense 
that  he  could  hardly  distinguish  an  object  six  feet  from 
him.  He  did  not  walk ;  he  crept,  putting  his  feet  down 
as  a  cat  does  when  she  is  on  the  point  of  pouncing  on 
her  prey. 

After  advancing  a  short  distance  he  heard  low"  voices 
on  the  banks  above  him.  He  was  passing  the  first  line 
of  pickets  —  that  of  the  Union  army.  His  progress  was 
very  slow,  but  he  succeeded  in  his  purpose  without 
drawing  the  fire  of  the  sentinels.  He  Avas  now  between 
the  two  lines,  and  he  quickened  his  pace  a  little. 

Wliile  he  was  thus  creeping  through  the  shallow  w^ater, 
he  discovered  in  the  gloom  a  dark  object  before  him. 
He  paused,  and  ascertained  that  it  was  a  human  figure 
—  a  man,  who  had  also  stopped ;  but  whether  friend  or 
enemy  he  could  not  determine. 
9 


98  FIGHTINO   JOE,    OB 


CHAPTER    IX. 


BETTVTEEN   THE    PICKETS. 


,  .^j— 'HE  man  in  the  ravine  stood  stock  still,  and 
g\  Somers  stood  stock  still.  Each  had  apparently 
^^_[y  discovered  the  other  at  the  same  moment,  and 
each  was  disturbed  by  the  same  doubts  in  regard  to  the 
other.  It  was  a  dead  lock,  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
for  neither  was  willing  to  advance  and  betray  himself  to 
the  other.  Somers  had  his  pistols  ;  but  a  shot,  if  he  was 
compelled  to  shoot  the  stranger,  might  call  forth  the  jfire 
of  the  pickets  on  both  sides. 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  situation  for  either  party ;  and 
they  stood  like  black  statues,  each  waiting  for  a  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  other.  The  only  thing  that 
Somers  could  do  was  to  retire  in  the  direction  he  had 
come  ;  but  this  involved  the  failure  of  the  enterprise  in 
which  he  had  engaged,  and  possibly  endangered  the 
result  of  the  next  day's  battle.  He  was  not  disposed  to 
withdraw ;  for  if  the  worst  came,  he  could  shoot  his 
opponent,  and  lie  down  under  the  bank  of  the  ravine  to 
shelter  himself  from  the  fire  of  the  pickets.     He  waited 


THE   FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  99 

a  reasonable  time  for  the  dark  stranger  to  say  or  do 
something ;  but  as  he  seemed  to  be  endowed  with  the 
patience  of  Job,  our  scout  decided  to  take  the  initiative 
himself. 

"  Friend  or  foe  ?  "  demanded  Somers,  in  a  low  tone  ; 
for  he  was  disposed  to  confine  the  conversation  to  them- 
selves. 

"  Friend,  of  course,"  replied  the  other. 

"  "Which  side  do  you  belong  to,  friend?  "  asked  Somers, 
deeming  the  answer  rather  indefinite. 

"To  the  Union  side,  of  course,"  replied  the  stranger, 
with  refreshing  promptness. 

There  was  no  non-committal  about  him,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  half  way  between  the  lines  of  the  two 
armies,  and  Somers  was  pretty  well  satisfied  that  he  was 
what  he  claimed  to  be. 

"  ^Hiere  are  you  going?  " 

*•  That's  rather  a  delicate  question.  Captain  Somers, 
my  dear  fellow,"  responded  the  stranger.  "  You  are 
evidently  at  your  old  tricks,  captain." 

"  "Who  are  you?"  demanded  Somers,  not  a  little  sur- 
prised and  disconcerted  at  being  recognized  in  his  present 
situation. 

"  Don't  you  know  me  ?  "  added  the  stranger,  advancing 
cautiously  towards  the  captain. 

''  I  haven't  that  pleasure." 

'*•  Yes,  you  have  ;  though  it  is  rather  dark  here,  for  a 


100  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

man  to  make  out  even  his  best  friend.  I  am  Major 
lliggleston." 

"  Are  you,  indeed  ? "  exclaimed  Soraers,  taken  all 
aback  by  tlie  announcement. 

He  would  rather  have  met  Stonewall  Jackson  under 
the  circumstances.  He  could  not  imagine  what  the 
major  could  possibly  be  doing  in  such  a  place  at  such  an 
hour  of  the  night,  unless  he  Avas  crawling  into  the  rebel 
lines,  to  take  a  part  with  the  foe  in  the  expected  battle, 
lie  was  tempted  to  shoot  him  on  the  spot,  and  thus, 
while  he  removed  an  obstaCcle  in  his  own  path,  rid  the 
country  of  a  traitor  and  a  dangerous  enemy  ;  but  Somers 
never  had  the  nerve  to  do  anything  that  looked  like 
aeliberate  murder.  '    • 

"  Major  Riggleston,  you  are  a  mystery  to  me,"  said  he. 

"  So  I  am  to  all  who  know  me,"  replied  the  major. 
"  Come,  captain,  let  us  sit  down  and  talk  over  the  matter. 
If  we  speak  low,  the  pickets  will  not  hear  us.  You  are 
a  man  after  my  own  heart,  and  I  desire  to  have  you  un- 
derstand me  better." 

"  I  think  I  understand  you  very  well." 

"  Xo,  you  don't ;  you  just  now  said  I  was  a  mystery 
to  you,"  chuckled  the  major. 

"I  mean  that  I  understand  your  objects  —  that  you 
are  a  traitor  to  your  cause  and  country." 

"  My  dear  captain,  you  never  made  a  greater  blunder 
in  your  life." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  101 

"  I  don't  see  it." 

"  You  shall  see  it,  iu  the  course  of  ten  minutes,  if  you 
will  hear  me." 

"  It  is  useless  for  me  to  hear  you.  I  shall  not  believe 
a  word  you  say,  after  what  passed  between  us  yes- 
terday." 

"What  was  that?" 

"Didn't  you  deny  all  knowledge  of  the  affair  at  the 
Hasbrouk  house." 

"  'Pen  my  word  I  did  not." 

"You  did  not?" 

"  No." 

"  You  have  the  worst  memory  of  any  man  in  Mary- 
land." 

"  That  may  be." 

"  Did  you,  when  we  met  last  evening  —  " 

"  "\Ye  didn't  meet  last  evening,"  interposed  the  major. 

"  You  have  a  most  astonishing  memory.  I  denounced 
you  as  a  traitor."       p 

"  It  wasn't  kind  of  you  to  do  that,"  laughed  Riggleston. 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  it  was  true.  You  didn't  know 
wliat  I  meant ;  you  hadn't  the  least  knowledge  of  the 
affair  at  the  Hasbrouk  house  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not,  over  there  !  " 

The  major  took  off  his  cap  and  scratched  his  head^ 
The  act  seemed  suddenly  to  vivify  his  memory.  i 

"  O,  I  do  remember  meeting  you  last  night,"  said  he.     ^ 
9* 


102  FIGHTIKG    JOE,    OR 

"  Very  gootl ;  I  have  some  hope  of  yoii,  at  last.  Now, 
jcan  you  recall  the  event  to  which  I  alluded?  " 

"  Perfectly." 

"  That  you,  in  connection  with  Miss  Hasbrouk,  at- 
tempted to  procure  my  capture  by  the  rebels  ?  " 

"  I  acknowledge  the  soft  impeachment ;  but  the  affair 
is  susceptible  of  a  different  construction  from  that  you 
put   on  it." 

"  I  think  not." 

"  Upon  my  word  it  is,  my  dear  fellow.  I  intend  to 
prove  it,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  agree  with  me." 

"  First,  will  you 'explain  to  me  how  you  happen  to  be 
in  this  ravine,  at  this  hour  of  the  night,  and  when  we 
are  on  the  eve  of  a  great  battle?"  asked  Son;iers. 

"  I  could  explain  it  to  your  undoubted  satisfaction,  my 
dear  captain  ;  but  you  must  excuse  me  for  the  present." 

"  I  can't  excuse  you  ;  and  we  may  as  well  fight  it  out 
now  as  at  any  other  time.  You  are  a  rebel,  and  I  am  a 
Union  man.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  Seward,  there  is  an 
irrepressible  conflict  between  us.  You  have  caught  me, 
and  I  have  caught  you.  I  don't  propose  to  shirk  the 
responsibility  of  my  position  ;  but  I  suppose  one  of  us 
must  die,  or  be  severely  wounded,  to  insure  the  safety  of 
the  other." 

Somers  cocked  his  pistol.  He  had  already  made  up 
his  mind  in  regard  to  the  presence  of  Major  Riggleston 
at  this  place.     His  theory  was,  that  the  fellow  was  a 


rilK    FOliTUSES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFICER.  103 

scout,  like  liiuiselt",  if  lie  was  not  a  professional  spy  ;  that 
at  the  time  they  happened  to  meet,  the  major  was  passing 
over  from  the  Union  to  the  rebel  lines,  for  the  purpose 
of  imparting  to  Stonewall  Jackson,  who  was  understood 
to  he  in  command  of  the  Confederate  left  wing,  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  strength  and  position  of  General 
MeClellan's  forces.  • 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  Captain  Somers,  don't  fire  upon 
me  ! "  exclaimed  the  major,  as  he  heard  the  click  of  the 
pistol.  ^ 

There  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  sincerity  of  the  fellow 
in  the  use  of  these  words.  Somers  judged,  from  what 
he  had  seen  of  him,  that  he  was  one  of  those  persons 
who  were  born  to  creep,  but  by  some  blunder  had  walked 
upright,  and  thus  deceived  the  Avorld  in  regard  tcT  their 
true  character.  ThouG^h  he  called  himself  a  fis-htinc: 
man,  he  was  a  cringing  coward,  as  Somers  had  twice 
before  had  occasion  to  observe. 

*'  I  have  no  wish  to  shoot  you,  Major  Riggleston.  I 
would  much  rather  be  spared  that  pain,"  said  Somers. 
*'  You  have  crossed  my  path,  ?ind  you  interfere  with  my 
plans." 

"  You  are  mistaken  again.  I  propose  to  explain 
everything,  and  then  we  shall  understand  each  other  per- 
fectly. You  are  a  scout,  and  so  am  I.  Y^ou  are  obtain- 
ing information  ;  so  am  I.  You  are  a  true  Union  man  ; 
so  am  I." 


10  i  FIGHTING    JOE,     OH 

"I  don't  believe  you." 

"  Here  is  my  pass  ;  that  will  couviuce  you." 

"  I  can't  see  to  read  it." 

*'  I  will  light  a  match.    It  will  not  be  seen  in  this  hole." 

The  major  handed  him  a  paper,  and  struck  a  match 
against  the  inside  of  his  cap. 

*'  Now  read  quick." 

Somers  read  :  "  The  bearer,  Major  Riggleston,  of  the 
— nd  Maryland  Home  Brigade,  is  a  true  and  loyal  man, 
and  as  such  entitled  to  receive  protection  and  assist- 
ance from  all  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  United  States." 
The  document  was  duly  signed  and  countersigned  by  high 
and  proper  authority,  and  the  date  was  within  the  current 
month  and  year.  The  captain  was  astonished  beyond 
measure,  for  he  had  no  doubt  of  the  correctness  of  this 
safe-conduct.  It  knocked  his  little  theory  all  to  pieces, 
and  he  was  forced,  for  the  first  time,  to  believe  that  he 
had  misjudged  the  major. 

"Where  are  you  bound  now?  "  asked  he. 

"  Just  wdiere  you  are." 

"  Do  you  carry  this  paper  with  you?  " 

''  Always  ;  my  life  would  not  be  safe  a  moment  with- 
out it." 

"  I  should  say  your  life  would  not  be  safe  with  it,  if  it 
were  discovered  upon  you  within  the  rebel  lines." 

"  There  is  no  danger  on  that  score.  I  take  good  care 
of  it.     Are  you  satisfied,  Captain  Somers  ?  " 


THE    FORTUSES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  105 

"  I  am  satisfied  with  the  paper  ;  but  I  tliink  your  em- 
ployers do  not  expect  you  to  entrap  Union  ofFicers,  as 
you   attempted  to   do  at  the   Ilasbrouk  house." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  I  did  not  intend  to  do  anything  of 
the  kind." 

•■'  You  were  certainly  a  party  to  the  transaction." 

"  Apparently  I  was  ;  really  I  was  not.  Now  that  you 
understand  the  first  part  of  the  story,  I  will  explain  the 
second.     You  know  Miss  Ilasbrouk?  " 

"  Certainly  I  know  her." 

"  She  is  a  beautiful  girl —  isn't  she?" 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  on  that  point ;  but  I  suppose 
you  will  tell  me  next  that  she  is  not  a  rebel,  and  that  she 
was  working  for  tUe  United  States  government  when  she 
got  up  that  little  conspiracy,  and  attempted  to  have  me 
hung." 

"  On  the  contrary,  she  is  a  rebel.  Jeff  Davis  himself 
is  not  a  more  thorough-going  rebel,  and  she  was  fully  in 
earnest  when  she  attempted  to  make  you  a  prisoner." 

"  But  you  assisted  her." 

"  Apparently  only ;  if  you  had  been  handed  over  to 
the  cavalry,  as  I  supposed  you  woujd  be,  it  would  have 
been  my  privilege,  as  it  would  have  been  my  duty,  to  get 
you  out  of  the  scrape,  Avhich  I  could  very  easily  have 
done.      Maud  regards  me  as  a  rebel." 

Somers  could  not  help  thinking  that  she  w^as  more  than 
half  right,  but  he  was  prudent  enough  not  to  give  voice 
to  his  thought  on  this  subject. 


106  FlGHTiyC    JOE,    OR 

"  You  helped  her  through  with  the  whole  thing." 

"  Undoubtedly  I  did,  but  with  the  intention  that  you 
should  not  suffer.  You  are  aware  that  she  planned  the 
scheme  herself;  I  was  dragged  into  it,  and  I  could  not 
resist  without  impairing  her  confidence  in  me." 

*'  You  seem  to  value  very  highly  the  confidence  of  a 
rebel  woman." 

"  For  the  sake  of  my  suffering  country  I  do.  Maud 
is  a  beautiful  girl ;  you  acknowledge  that.  "Well,  the 
rebel  officers  think  so,  too,"  added  the  major,  pausing  as 
if  to  give  his  companion  an  opportunity  to  comment  on 
this  remarkable  partiality ;  or  perhaps  to  note  the  bear- 
ing of  the  fact  on  their  intimate  relations. 

"  They  are  gentlemen  of  taste,"  was  all  the  comment 
Somers  deemed  it  necessary  to  make. 

"  Maud  is  an  enterprising  woman.  She  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  all  army  movements,  and  worms  out  of  the 
rebel  officers  much  valuable  information,  which  I  in  turn 
worm  out  of  her ;  for  I  need  hardly  tell  you  that  the 
relations  between  Maud  and  myself  are  of  the  pleasantest 
character." 

"  Lovers?  "  added  Somers. 

"  Y^es,  if  you  please." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  is  using  a  very  sacred  relation 
for  ^  very  vicious  purpose,"  replied  the  captain,  whose 
fine  sentiment  was  not  a  little  shocked  at  the  thought  of 
loveri  mutually  deceiving  each  other. 


THE    FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  107 

**  We  wort  for  our  country,  Captain  Somers." 

*'  Go  on,  major." 

*'  Don't  you  understand  it  all  now?  " 

*'  I  think  I  do  ;  at  least,  enough  of  it  to  comprehend 
your  position." 

Somers,  in  spite  of  himself,  was  not  entirely  satisfied  ; 
certainly  not  with  the  character  of  the  man,  if  he  was 
with  the  genuineness  of  his  mission. 

"  "WTiich  way  were  you  going  when  I  met  you  ?  " 
asked  he. 

"  The  same  way  that  you  w^ere,"  replied  the  major, 
with  some  hesitation.  "If  you  please,  we  will  go  on 
together.  You  report  to  one  general,  and  I  to  another  ; 
but  the  substance  of  our  information  must  be  the  same. 
We  will  go  on  together,  and  return  together." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that." 

"  I  am  entirely  safe  within  the  rebel  lines.  If  we 
have  passed  the  Yankee  pickets,  we  have  nothing  more 
to  fear." 

The  Yankee  pickets  !  This  was  not  the  form  of  expres- 
sion usually  adopted  by  loyal  men  ;  and  it  was  the  second 
time  he  had  detected  his  interesting  companion  in  using 
it.  It  seemed  to  be  habitual  with  him ;  but  perhaps  it 
was  because  he  had  spent  so  much  of  his  time  within 
the  rebel  lines,  pursuing  the  duties  of  his  calling. 
*'  I  think  we  had  better  keep  w^ithin  the  ravine." 
"  Very  well ;  but  I  ha^  a  rebel  safe-conduct." 


108  FIGHTISO    J  OK,    OR 

"  Would  you  let  me  see  them  both,  if  you  please." 

"  Certainly,  if  you  desire  it,"  replied  the  major,  but 
with  evident  reluctance. 

He  produced  them  both,  with  the  remark  that  it  was 
not  necessary  to  read  the  true  one  again  ;  but  Somers 
wished  it,  and  he  yielded.  The  major  lighted  a  match, 
and  the  captain  read  both  the  documents.  As  he  finished 
the  match  went  out,  and  they  were  in  total  darkness 
again. 

"  What's  that  ?  "  said  Somers,  suddenly  springing  to 
his  feet,  with  the  papers  in  his  hand. 

It  was  a  shot  from  the  pickets  ;  but  there  had  been 
one  every  ten  minutes  since  they  sat  down. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  109 


CHAPTER    X. 


MAJOR   RIGGLESTON. 


OMERS  had  tlii-ust  the  papers  into  his  pocket, 
pretending  to  fear  a  sudden  onslaught  of  the 
pickets  ;  but  the  alarm  passed  without  any  con- 
sequences, serious  or  otherwfse. 

'•  AVe  are  perfectly  safe,  captain,"  said  Major  Riggles- 
ton.     "  I  believe  you  did  not  give  me  back  my  papers." 

'^  Here  they  are,"  replied  he,  handing  him  the  blank 
letter  which  had  played  so  i;iiportant  a  part  in  the 
attempt  to  capture  him  at  the  Ilasbrouk  house,  and 
which  he  had  put  in  his  pocket  at  the  time.  "  We  are 
losing  the  whole  night,  and  we  had  better  move  on.  I 
am  satisfied  with  the  prospect,  but  I  would  rather  not 
expose  myself  to  the  rebel  pickets." 

"  As  you  please  ;  we  can  go  through  this  place  with- 
out being  seen  or  heard.  But  I  am  well  known  all 
through  the  rebel  army,  and  I  shall  not  be  molested 
when  I  give  my  name." 

"  Then  you  will  be  a  useful  friend  to  me." 

'•  That's  what  I  have  been  trying  to  prove  to  you. 
10 


110  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

Perhaps  I  ought  to  say  that  I  actually  hold  a  commission 
in  the  Confederate  cavalry,  which  enables  me  to  stand 
square  before  the  rebels  while  I  give  information  to  our 
own  people.     You  understand  me." 

"  Perfectly." 

"  I  have  told  you  what  no  other  living  man  knows ; 
for  even  the  high  authority  that  employs  me  has  no  con- 
ception of  the  means  by  which  I  procure  my  informa- 
tion. I  have  trusted  you,  because  you  are  a  man  after 
my  own  heart.  What  you  did  in  Virginia  endears  you 
to  me.  "We  are  kindred  spirits,  and  it  is  proper  that  we 
should  understand  each  other." 

Somers  hoped  they  were  not  kindred  spirits  ;  for  if  the 
major  was  what  he  claimed  to  be,  there  could  be  but 
little  sympathy  between  them.  He  was  a  coward  and 
a  brag ;  and  he  told  more  lies  than  even  his  dangerous 
profession  required.  He  used  the  sacred  relations  of 
life  for  his  own  purposes.  But  Somers  was  not  satisfied, 
as  we  have  before  suggested.  The  major  had  a  safe- 
conduct  from  the  authorities  on  both  sides  ;  and  whatever 
weight  he  had  given  to  the  loyal  one  was  neutralized  by 
the  production  of  the  other.  It  was  possible  that  he  had 
procured  it  for  the  purpose  of  doing  Union  work ;  but 
one  pass  nullified  the  other ;  and  the  captain  was  still  in 
doubt  as  to  which  side  his  versatile  companion  actually 
belonged  —  so  much  in  doubt  that  he  was  fully  determined 
not  to  run  any  risks. 


THE   FOR  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  Ill 

Major  Riggleston  led  the  way  up  the  ravine,  both  of 
them  creeping  and  crawling  at  a  snail's  pace,  so  as  not 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  pickets  on  the  bank  above 
them.  Somers  would  not  have  been  very  much  surprised 
if  the  ''  kindred  spirit"  before  him  had  summoned  the 
soldiers  to  make  him  a  prisoner ;  but  he  stood  prepared 
for  such  an  emergency.  His  pistol  was  ready  for  im- 
mediate use  ;  and  if  a  scene  occurred,  he  trusted  to  the 
darkness  of  the  night  and  the  friendly  shelter  of  the 
ravine  to  promote  his  escape. 

Apparently  the  highly  respectable  scout  in  his  com- 
pany had  no  intention  of  betraying  him,  for  they  passed 
in  safety  through  the  line  of  rebel  pickets,  and  emerged 
from  the  ravine  into  a  grove  of  oaks.  If  the  major  had 
set  a  trap  to  make  him  a  prisoner,  or  had  resorted  to  a 
scheme  to  save  himself  from  a  personal  encounter  in  the 
lonely  gorge,  there  was  no  longer  any  need  that  he  should 
keep  up  his  pretensions,  for  the  camp  fires  of  the  rebels 
were  to  be  seen  in  every  direction.  Only  a  few  rods 
from  the  spot  where  they  stODd  there  was  a  body  of  cav- 
alry bivouacking  on  the  ground. 

Somers  was  a  prey  to  the  most  painful  doubts.  Up- 
permost in  his  mind  was  the  wush  to  discharge  with 
fidelity  the  ditficult  and  dangerous  task  which  had  been 
imposed  upon  him  ;  and  if  Major  Riggleston  was  what 
he  claimed,  he  would  be  an  invaluable  assistant  to  him. 
His  two  passes,  one  from  each  party  in  the  great  strife, 


112  FIGHTING   JOE,    OB 

proved  nothing  for  or  against  him.  It  was  utterly  im- 
possible, therefore,  to  reach  a  satisfactory  conclusion  in 
regard  to  his  companion.  But  it  was  not  prudent  to 
place  himself  in  a  situation  where  he  could  be  easily- 
captured.  All  he  could  do  was  to  permit  affairs  to  take 
their  own  course  until  some  further  developments  should 
enable  him  to  act  intelligently.  As  they  were  now  actu- 
ally within  the  rebel  lines,  the  conclusion  of  the  whole 
matter  must  soon  be  reached. 

"  This  is  rathe^  dangerous  business,"  said  the  major, 
as  they  stepped  from  the  bank  into  the  oak  grove. 

"  We  must  proceed  with  the  utmost  caution,"  replied 
Somers,  nervously,  as  he  gazed  earnestly  at  his  associate, 
to  obtain,  if  he  could,  any  clew  to  his  purpose. 

"  If  you  confide  in  me.  Captain  Somers,  you  will  be 
safe,  unless  some  stupid  sentinel  takes  it  into  his  head  to 
fire  upon  us,  which  is  really  the  only  danger  we  incur." 

"  I  think  we  had  better  avoid  these  camps  and  squads 
of  soldiers  as  much  as  possible.  Do  you  know  where 
the  main  line  of  Jackson's  army  is?" 

"  Certainly  I  do  ;  I  will  show  it  to  you  in  due  time." 

"Is  he  fortified?" 

"  You  shall  see  in  a  short  time." 

"  How  many  men  has  he  ?  " 

"  About  seventy  thousand." 

Somers  knew  better  than  this  ;  and  the  answer  sounded 
very  much  like  a  Confederate  reply  to  a  Union  question. 


TUE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  113 

*'  Now  follow  me,"  said  the  major,  *'  and  whatever 
happens,  don't  be  alarmed." 

Riggleston  led  the  way  through  the  grove  ;  but  they 
had  advanced  only  a  few  paces  before  they  were  chal- 
lenged by  a  rebel  soldier.  The  major  replied  to  the 
demand  with  easy  self-possession,  informing  the  soldier 
who  he  was.  It  was  all  right,  and  they  were  permitted 
to  proceed  on  their  way. 

**  You  sec  it  is  all  right,  captain,"  said  the  major,  as 
they  entered  the  open  field  beyond  the  grove. 

*'  They  know  you  very  well." 

"  Of  course  they  do." 

**  If  you  know  all  about  the  situation  and  the  force  of 
the  rebels,  what  is  the  use  of  going  any  farther  ?  " 

*'  I  don't  know,"  replied  the  major,  rather  confused  at 
the  question.   "  But,  Somers,  you  wear  your  staff  uniform." 

'^  I  do." 

"  That's  a  mistake.  It  will  expose  yourself  and  me," 
he  added,  with  some  appearance  of  alarm.  "  If  I  had 
seen  what  you  had  on  before,  I  should  not  have  dared 
to  come  with  you." 

*'  I  don't  intend  to  show  myself  to  these  people." 

*'  But  we  were  challenged  only  a  moment  since  ;  and 
if  the  soldiers  had  noticed  your  uniform,  they  would  have 
detained  you." 

'•  If  I  had  been  alone,  I  should  not  have  exposed  my- 
self to  their  gaze." 
10* 


114  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  It's  a  mistake,  and  we  must  correct  it." 

"  Half  the  rebel  officers  wear  Union  colors.  They  rob 
our  people  of  their  coats,  and  don't  scruple  to  wear  them.'* 

"  But  a  staff  uniform  !  '* 

"  I  think  we  had  better  separate  here  ;  I  will  take 
care  of  myself,  and  you  can  pursue  your  investigations 
in  your  own -way." 

"  You  would  be  taken  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 
There  is  a  house  over  here,  where  I  can  get  you  a 
farmer's  frock,  or  something  of  that  kind." 

"  Then,  if  taken,  I  am  an  officer  in  disguise ;  and  it 
would  go  hard  with  me." 

"  I  think  it  would  any  way." 

"  Perhaps  it  would." 

"  You  are  pretty  well  known  by  reputation.  You  had 
better  change  your  name." 

"  Perhaps  I  will,  if  I  have  to  give  my  name." 

"  Who  goes  there  ? "  demanded  a  squad  of  men,  as 
they  were  on  the  point  of  crossing  a  rough  farm-road. 

*'  Friends,"  replied  the  major. 

"  Who  are  you?" 

"  Major  Eiggleston." 

"We  have  just  caught  a  ^Yankee  spy  —  a  fellow 
crawling  into  our  lines,"  replied  one  of  the  men. 

There  were  four  of  them ;  they  had  a  prisoner  whom 
they  were  conducting  up  the  road  towards  the  main  body 
of  Jackson's  division. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  115 

"  Where  did  you  ^^i  him  ?  " 

"Up  iu  tlie  corn^cld  beyond..  lie  was  crawling  on 
his  hands  and  knees  between  the  rows,  and  had  got 
ahnost  through  when  wc  found  him.  AVe  shall  do  some 
hanging  in  the  morning.  "What  shall  we  do  with  him, 
major  ?  "  • 

Somers  looked  with  interest  and  sympathy  at  the  poor 
fellow  thus  entrapped  ;  but  the  major  was  a  Union  man, 
and  of  course  he  would  save  him  from  his  fate  the  mo- 
ment he  could  consistently  with  the  duty  of  keeping  up 
appearances.  * 

"  Take  him  up  to  this  house,"  said  the  major,  point- 
ing in  the  direction  he  was  leading  Somers. 

The  men  obeyed.  Their  dangling  sabres  indicated 
that  they  belonged  to  the  cavalry ;  and  the  obedience 
they  rendered  to  Major  Riggleston  further  indicated  that 
they  belonged  to  his  battalion. 

*' Why  should  these  men  obey  you?"  asked  Somers, 
wishing  to  settle  this  point. 

"  They  are  my  men.  I  told  you  I  held  a  commission 
in  the  cavalry  —  for  the  good  cause,  you  know." 

''  I  understand." 

"  By  the  way,  captain,  have  you  seen  Miss  Hasbrouk 
since  we  met  last  ?  " 

"  I  have  not." 

"  She  follows  the  army." 

"Which  army?" 


116  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  The  rebel  army,  of  course." 

"What  for?" 

"  Because  she  likes  it,  I  suppose.  She  is  very  useful 
as  a  nurse,  they  say.  Of  course  I  don't  discourage  her  ; 
for  I  make  her  serviceable  to  the  good  cause,  you  know." 

The  farm-house  was  now  in  sight,  and  there  was  a 
light  in  one  of  the  front  rooms.  Without  the  ceremony 
of  knocking,  the  major  opened  the  door  and  entered, 
ordering  the  four  cavalrymen  to  follow  him  with  their 
prisoner. 

"  Come  in,"  said  he. 

"Who  is  in  this  house?"  demanded  Somers,  shrink- 
ins:  from  the  lis^ht  which  he  saw  within. 

"  Only  women,  with  a  few  wounded  men.  I  want 
to  see  this  prisoner,  and  find  a  good  excuse  for  letting 
him  go,"  replied  the  major,  in  a  whisper. 

Somers  entered  the  house,  where  the  prisoner  had 
already  been  conducted.  To  his  surprise  and  chagrin  he 
discovered  that  the  unfortunate  was  Captain  Barkwood  ; 
but  the  major  did  not  seem  to  recognize  his  companion 
in  the  skirmish  on  the  road  and  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Rig- 
gleston  in  Frederick. 

*'  Two  of  you  hold  your  prisoner,"  said  the  major  to 
the  soldiers,  as  they  entered  the  small  room. 

"  Now,  Captain  Somers,"  he  added,  when  Captain 
Barkwood  had  been  placed  in  a  corner  with  two  men 
holding  him,  "  allow  me  to  add,  that  we  have  carried 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  117 

this  farce  quite  far  enough,  and  that  you  are  also  a 
prisoner." 

At  this  moment,  to  the  astonishment  of  Somers,  Maud 
Ilasbrouk  entered  the  room  to  learn  the  cause  of  the 
commotion,  —  for  it  appeared  afterwards  that  she  was 
here  nursing  a  couple  of  otiicers  who  had  been  wounded 
at  South  Mountain. 

"  Why,  major,  I  did  not  expect  to  see  you  at  this  early 
hour  of  the  night,"  said  she. 

"  I  have  brought  up  one  of  your  friends,"  added  he, 
laughing,  as  he  pointed  at  Somers. 

*'  Captain  Somers  !  "  exclaimed  she,  as  a  smile  of  tri- 
umph lighted  up  the  features  of  the  beauty.  "  This  is 
an  unexpected  pleasure.  I  hope  you  are  quite  well, 
Captain  Somers." 

"  As  well  as  usual,  I  thank  you,""  replied  he. 

We  need  not  add  that  he  was  bewildered  by  the  new 
situation,  and  roundly  condemned  his  own  folly  in  per- 
mitting himself  to  be  led  into  such  a  trap.  It  was  quite 
evident  that  the  treacherous  major  had  brought  him  to 
this  house  for  the  purpose  of  permitting  Miss  Maud  to 
enjoy  the  triumph.  lie  was  determined  not  to  afford 
her  much  satisfaction.  It  might  prove  to  be  a  hanging 
affair  to  him,  and  he  felt  himself  warranted  in  resorting 
to  the  most  desperate  remedies.  It  was  better  to  die  by 
a  bullet  or  a  sabre  cut  than  perish  by  the  rope. 

"  I  have  been  entertaining  our  friend  the  captain  for 


118  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

the  last  hour  with  an  account  of  my  services  to  the  Yan- 
kees, all  of  -which  he  has  swallowed  as  a  fish  does  a 
worm,  without  seeing  the  hook  within.  He  came  here 
like  a  lamb  ;  and  as  you  had  some  sparring  with  him  on 
a  former  occasion,  when  he  rather  got  the  better  of  you, 
I  thought  you  would  like  to  see  him  before  I  send  him 
and  the  other  enterprising  gentleman  to  the  rear." 

"  I  am  delis^hted  to  see  him.  And  the  other  gentle- 
man  is  Captain  Barkwood.  He  belongs  to  the  reg- 
ulars." 

"  I  never  saw  him  before,"  replied  the  major. 

Somers  thought  he  had  another  attack  of  bad  memory  ; 
but  the  situation  was  too  exciting  to.  permit  him  to  dwell 
on  minor  discrepancies.  When  the  major  called  him  a 
prisoner,  Somers  had  quietly  fallen  back  into  the  corner 
of  the  room  behind  the  door  by  which  he  had  entered. 
Barkwood  had  been  thrust  back  into  another  corner  at 
his  left,  while  Maud  and  the  major  stood  diagonally 
opposite  to  him,  and  near  the  door  by  which  she  had 
entered  from  the  chamber  of  her  patients.  The  two 
cavalrymen  not  employed  were  standing  half  way  between 
Somers  and  Barkwood. 

"  I'm  sure  I  am  delighted  to  see  you.  Captain  Som- 
ers," laughed  Maud.  "  I  came  over  here  to  take  care 
of  two  sick  friends,  and  expected  nothing  but  a  melan- 
choly time.     Your  presence  fills  me  with  satisfaction." 

"  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  you,  and  thankful  that  I  am 


THE   FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER,  119 

able  to  do  something  more  towards  discharging  the  debt 
of  gratitude  I  owe  to  you  for  your  kindness  on  a  former 
occasion.  You  are  fond  of  situations,  and  I  am  again 
the  central  figure  in  one,"  answered  Somers,  without  any 
apparent  appreciation  of  the  difficulty  and  danger  of  his 
position.     "  AVould  you  like  to  ask  me  any  questions?" 

"  I  cannot  stop  to  question  you  now  ;  my  patients  need 
my  care.  You  would  evade  them  if  I  did  ;  besides,  this 
is  Major  liiggleston's  affair,  not  mine,"  replied  she,  with 
a  mocking  laugh. 

*'  And  I  will  take  care  that  this  affair  don't  go  wrong," 
said  the  major.     "  Soldiers,  secure  your  prisoners." 

The  two  men  moved  towards  Somers  in  the  comer. 


120  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XI. 


SHOT    IN   THE    HEAD. 


>^^^HE  critical  moment,  when  everything  depended 
i  i  upon  the  wisdom  and  energy  of  the  next  move, 
^^_[y  had  arrived.  As  Major  Riggleston  issued  his 
order,  Somers  raised  one  of  his  pistols,  and,  taking  hasty 
but  careful  aim  at  his  treacherous  companion,  fired. 
"While  her  accepted  suitor  was  uttering  his  mandate, 
Maud,  as  if  fearing  a  repetition  of  the  uncomfortable 
proceeding  at  the  Hasbrouk  house,  retreated  into  the 
apartment  occupied  by  her  patients.  The  ball  struck  the 
major  in  the  head,  and  he  fell,  with  a  shock  that  caused 
the  rude  structure  to  tremble. 

A  half-suppressed  shriek  from  the  sick  room  assured 
those  in  the  front  apartment  that  Maud  was  aware  active 
proceedings  had  commenced,  though  she  could  not  have 
known  who  was  the  first  victim  in  the  encounter.  The 
two  soldiers,  who  had  been  ordered  to  arrest  the  staff 
ofiicer,  were  bold  enough  to  move  upon  their  intended 
victim ;  but  they  only  rushed  upon  the  barrel  of  a  re- 
volver, pointed  by  the  hand  of  one  skilled  in  the  business, 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  121 

and  collected  enough  to  do  his  work  carefully  and  effec- 
tively. 

Again  Somers  fired,  and  the  foremost  of  the  two  sol- 
diers fell  dead  upon  the  floor.  lie  fired  a  third  time,  and 
the  other  soldier  shrank  back  with  the  ball  in  his  ri^'ht 

o 

shoulder.     The  two  men  in  charge  of  Captain  Barkwood 
had  been  too  often  in  the  midst  of  death  and  carna<^e  to 

o 

be  appalled  by  these  exciting  events. 

*'  Hold  this  man ! "  exclaimed  the  more  decided 
of  the  two,  "and  I  will  make  short  work  of  that 
fellow." 

"  Shoot  him,"  replied  the  other.     "  Do  it  quick." 

He  attempted  to  do  it  quick  ;  too  quick,  for  he  missed 
his  mark.  He  fired  again,  but  the  smoke  impaired  his 
aim.  At  this  moment  Captain  Barkwood,  conscious  that 
the  time  for  a  demonstration  in  favor  of  his  friend  had 
come,  with  a  sharp,  nervous  movement,  freed  himself 
from  the  grasp  of  the  rebel  in  charge  of  him,  and  struck 
him  a  tremendous  blow  in  the  temple  with  his  bare  fist, 
which  felled  him  to  the  floor.  Not  satisfied  with  this 
deed,  he  sprang  upon  the  other  soldier,  who  was  in  the 
act  of  firing  upon  Somers  for  the  third  time.  Grasping 
him  by  the  shoulders  with  both  hands,  he  brought  his 
knee  violently  into  the  small  of  his  back,  and  thus  threw 
him  down.  Seizing  his  pistol,  he  struck  him  a  heavy 
blow  on  the  head  with  the  weapon. 

"  I  surrender,"  said  the  wounded  man,  —  who  was  the 
11 


122  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

only  one  of  the  four  in  condition  to  speak,  —  as  Somers 
moved' towards  liim. 

The  young  captain  took  the  sabre  from  his  belt,  and 
opening  the  window,  tossed  it  out.  All  active  opposition 
had  been  conquered,  but  two  of  the  men  were  only 
stunned,  and  in  a  short  time  they  would  probably  be  able 
to  speak  and  act  for  themselves. 

"  Captain  Somers,  I  would  hug  you  if  I  had  time," 
said  Bark  wood.     "  What  shall  we  do  next?  " 

"  I  hardly  know,"  replied  Somers.  "  If  we  leave  the 
house,  we  may  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  first  squad  of 
soldiers  we  meet.  Besides,  we  ha^e  not  done  our  work 
yet.     We  must  first  look  after  the  lady." 

Somers,  stepping  over  the  body  of  Major  Riggleston, 
which  lay  near  the  door,  entered  the  apartment  occupied 
by  the  wounded  officers.  There  was  no  light  there,  and 
he  returned  to  bring  that  in  the  front  room.  He  found 
Maud  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  apparently 
paralyzed  with  terror. 

"  Miss  Hasbrouk,  here  is  another  officer  who  needs 
your  care,  if  he  is  not  already  past  it." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  asked  she,  in  husky  tones. 

"  Major  Riggleston  has  fallen." 

She  uttered  a  faint  scream.  She  was  so  enfeebled  by 
terror  that  she  seemed  not  to  have  the  strength  to  do 
anything.  She  was  more  at  talking  than  she  was  at 
acting. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFlCEll.  123 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  asked  she. 

"  Come  and  sec,"  replied  he. 

She  timidly  followed  him  into  the  adjoining  room,  and 
gazed  with  fear  and  trembliug  upon  the  form  of  the 
major. 

*'  Is  he  —  is  he  —  dead  ?  "  gasped  she. 

*'  I  don't  know,"  replied  Somers,  stooping  down,  and 
glancing  at  the  wound  on  the  major's  head.  "  No,  he  is 
not  dead,  and  probably  will  not  die  with  that  wound." 

"  What  shall  I  do?    Will  you  call  a  surgeon?" 

"  I  think  not." 

"  We  have  no  time  to  spare,  Captain  Somers,"  inter- 
posed the  regular,  with  a  smile  at  the  simple  question  of 
the  frightened  Maud. 

*'  We  will  make  our  escape.  We  will  go  by  the  grove 
to  the  north  of  the  house  —  to  the  north"  said  Somers, 
with  peculiar  emphasis. 

*'  To  the  norm,"  repeated  Barkwood,  with  the  same 
emphasis,  though  he  did  not  understand  the  strategy  of 
his  companion. 

"  We  need  not  hurry  ;  the  more  haste,  the  less  speed 
in  the  business,"  replied  Somers,  as  he  bent  over  the 
prostrate  form  of  the  major  again. 

This  time  he  took  from  his  body  the  large,  looBe  coat 
which  the  treacherous  rebel  had  worn,  and  picked  up  the 
felt  hat,  adorned  with  a  black  feather,  which  had  dropped 
&om  his  head. 


124  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  He  is  killed,"  said  Maud,  who  was  beginning  to 
recover  her  self-possession. 

"  Perhaps  he  is ;  but  that  is  his  fault,  not  mine,"  re- 
plied Somers,  as  he  led  the  way  out  of  the  door,  followed 
by  the  regular.  "  If  either  of  you  attempt  to  follow  us, 
or  leave  the  house  within  half  an  hour,  it  will  cost  you 
your  lives,"  he  added,  addressing  Maud  and  J:he  wounded 
soldier. 

"  May  I  not  send  for  a  surgeon?"  asked  she,  with  a 
meekness  which  ill  comported  with  her  former  imperious 
manner. 

"  No." 

"  But  the  major  will  die." 

"  I  can't  help  it." 

"  I  will  not  say  anything  about  you,  if  you  will  allow 
me  to  send  for  assistance." 

"  Half  an  hour  will  make  no  difference  to  him," 
answered  Somers,  as  he  left  the  housR  "  Come  with 
me,"  added  he  to  the  regular,  when  they  reached  the 
open  air. 

He  led  the  way  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  where  there 
were  a  number  of  sheds,  and  other  out-buildings,  used 
for  various  farm  purposes.  One  of  these  he  entered, 
followed  by  the  regular,  who  seemed  to  repose  unlim- 
ited confidence  in  the  tact  and  ability  of  his  young 
companion. 

"  What  next,  Somers?  "  asked  Barkwood,  in  a  whisper. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  125 

"  Nothing  just  yet.  There  will  be  a  tremendous  row 
round  here  in  the  course  of  ten  minutes,  or  at  most  half 
an  hour.  All  "vve  want  just  now  is  a  snug  place  to  lie  by 
in  until  the  tempest  blows  over." 

*'  But  you  are  not  going  to  stop  here  —  are  you? '*  de- 
manded the  regular,  in  a  tone  which  sufficiently  expressed 
his  astonishment  at  such  a  policy. 

*'  This  is  the  best  place  in  the  world  for  us.  I  am  not 
a  strategist,  as  you  are,  captain  ;  but  I  have  a  fixed  prin- 
ciple •  for  use  in  cases  of  this  kind,  and  that  is,  to  stow 
myself  away  in  a  place  where  they  are  least  likely  to  look 
for  me." 

*'  Very  good  ;  but  where  is  that  place  ?  " 

"  Here,  in  this  house." 

"  That's  cool." 

*'  But  it  is  the  best  logic  in  the  world.  I  don't  want 
to  influence  you  in  your  movements,  Captain  Barkwood ; 
but  I  don't  intend  to  return  without  the  information  which 
I  came  out  to  procure.  If  you  want  to  return  to  the 
camp,  I  will  tell  you  how  you  can  manage,  though  I 
think  you  had  better  remain  with  me." 

"  I  am  entirely  of  your  opinion,"  whispered  the  regu- 
lar, with  a  suppressed  chuckle.  "  You  are  an  old  head 
at  this  business,  and  I  am  as  green  at  it  as  a  two  months' 
baby." 

"  As  you  please,  captain.  For  my  own  part,  I  feel  tol- 
erably safe  now.  I  was  a  fool  to  trust  that  Riggleston." 
11* 


126  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  He  is  an  infernal  villain." 

"  Hush !  "  said  Somers,  finding  his  companion  was 
becoming  a  little  too  emphatic  for  safety.  "  I  must^nd 
a  place  to  stow  you  away." 

In  the  back  room  of  the  house,  which  was  only  a  shed 
attached  to  the  rear  of  the  building,  Somers  found  a 
large  closet,  which  seemed  to  be  a  kind  of  lumber  room. 
In  this  he  bestowed  his  companion,  and  rolled  a  large 
chopping-block  up  before  the  door.  While  he  was 
engaged  in  this  operation,  the  door  leading  from  the 
kitchen  into  the  shed  opened,  and  an  old  black  woman 
rushed  out,  apparently  deeply  moved  by  some  circum- 
stance which  Somers  had  no  difficulty  in  understanding. 
She  had  a  light  in  her  hand,  which  at  once  revealed  to 
her  the  presence  of  a  stranger  upon  her  own  peculiar 
territory. 

"  De  Lo'd ! "  exclaimed  she,  starting  back  with 
alarm. 

*'  Silence,  aunty !  Don't  speak  again,"  said  Somers, 
in  a  low  tone. 

"  Gracious  !  Dat's  Massa  Riggleston  !  "  added  she, 
shrinking  back. 

The  scout  had  put  on  the  great  coat  and  feathered  hat 
of  the  major,  which  seemed  to  explain  the  terror  of  the 
woman. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  aunty?  " 

'*'  For  de  doctor,"  said  she  ;  "  but  if  you  be  de  ghost 


THE   FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  127 

ob  Massa  Riggleston,  'taint  no  use  for  dc  doctor,  for 
de  major  must  be  dead."     • 

*'  No  matter  what  I  am,  aunty.     Come  with  me." 

"  De  Lo'd  sabe  us  !  " 

*'  If  you  behave  yourself,  and  don't  make  a  noise,  I 
will  not  hurt  you,"  said  he,  as  he  led  the  way  out  of  the 
shed. 

"  Where  be  I  gwine,  massa?" 

"  No  matter  ;  keep  still."  «■ 

A  few  steps  from  the  door  was  a  small  tool-house, 
which  Somers  opened,  and  ordered  the  woman  to  go  in. 
She  tremblingly  obeyed,  and  he  closed  the  door  upon  her, 
with  an  injunction  to  keep  entirely  silent,  which  she 
seemed  disposed  to  obey.  Fastening  the  door  upon  her, 
he  returned  to  the  house,  satisfied  that  she  Avould  not 
further  interfere  with  his  plans. 

The  black  woman  had  left  the  kitchen  door  open,  and 
Somers  walked  in,  with  the  light  in  his  hand.  There 
was  a  fire  in  the  stove,  on  which  there  were  several 
dishes  of  gruel,  and  other  articles  necessary  for  the  sick 
room.  It  was  evident  that  the  farmer  and  his  family 
had  been  turned  out  of  the  house,  for  no  other  per- 
sons appeared  to  disturb  his  operations.  His  long,  heavy 
boots  were  not  favorable  to  stealthy  movements,  and  he 
retired  to  the  back  room  to  remove  them.  After  satisfy- 
ing himself,  by  a  further  examination,  in  regard  to  the 
structure  of  the  house,  and  the  position  of  the  doors  and 


128  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

windows,  he  extinguished  the  light,  and  passed  from  the 
kitchen  to  the  front  entry. 

The  door  connecting  with  the  front  room,  where  the 
exciting  events  of  the  evening  had  occurred,  was  open. 
Maud,  in  the  deepest  distress,  wa»  talking  to  the  wounded 
soldier.  He  was  unable  or  unwilling  to  do  anything,  and 
Maud  depended  upon  the  black  woman  for  aid.  Somers 
concealed  himself  under  the  stairs,  and  waited  for  further 
developments. 

He  was  not  compelled  to  wait  long ;  for  presently  he 
heard  footsteps,  which  indicated  the  arrival  of  at  least 
half  a  dozen  persons. 

"  It  is  hardly  time  for  the  return  of  Major  Riggleston," 
said  one  of  them. 

"  "^""6  are  rather  early ;  but  when  he  comes,  he  will 
bring  us  the  fullest  intelligence,"  added  another,  as  they 
entered  the  front  room. 

Then  there  was  a  commotion,  which  Avas  produced  by 
the  discovery  of  what  had  taken  place  in  the  apartment. 
There  was  nothing  but  a  board  partition  between  Somers 
and  the  interior  of  the  room,  and  lie  could  distinctly  hear 
everything  that  was  said.  Maud  told,  in  few  words, 
what  had  happened  in  the  room  ;  that  Major  Riggleston 
had  been  shot  in  the  head  in  his  attempt  to  capture  two 
prisoners,  and  that  the  men  who  had  done  the  foul  deed 
had  escaped.  From  what  was  said  it  was  evident  that 
one  of  the  officers  was  a  person  high  in  command  —  a 


THE    FOnrUXES    OF    A     STAFF    OFFICER.  129 

general  of  division,  if  not  Stonewall  Jackson  himself. 
The  others  called  him  simply  "  general,"  and  Somera 
could  not  determine  who  he  was.  The  officers  with  him 
were  probably  members  of  his  staff. 

The  general  immediately  despatched  one  of  his  officers 
to  institute  a  strict  search  for  the  spies  who  had  done  this 
terrible  work.  He,  regretted  that  it  had  not  been  dis- 
covered before  ;  for  the  miscreants,  as  he  called  them,  in 
the  most  complimentary  terms,  were  probably  a  good 
distance  from  the  house  by  this  time. 

"  I  know  which  way  they  went,  general,"  said  Maud, 
eagerly.     "  They  went  to  the  north  of  the  house." 

*^  To  the  north,  general,"  added  the  Avounded  soldier ; 
for  both  of  them  had  carefully  treasured  up  this  informa- 
tion, dropped  hastily  from  the  mouths  of  the  scouts,  for 
future   use,  as   Somers  intended  they  should. 

"  Very  well ;  pursue  them  towards  the  north,  colonel," 
resumed  the  general.  "  But  don't  say  a  word  about  what 
has  happened  in  this  house  till  morning.  It  will  help  U3 
in  the  search." 

The  speaker  proceeded  to  give  very  careful  directions 
for  the  pursuit  and  the  search,  to  all  of  which  Somers  lis- 
tened with  the  deepest  interest.  The  colonel  who  had 
been  charged  with  the  duty,  departed. 

*'  What  do  you  think  of  him,  doctor?"  asked  Maud, 
revealing  to  the  listener  the  fact  that  one  of  the  officers 
was  a  surgeon. 


130  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

She  was  sad  and  depressed,  and  asked  the  question 
with  trembling  tones,  which  betrayed  her  solicitude  for 
the  wounded  major. 

"  I  don't  think  he  is  very  badly  wounded.  The  ball 
has  passed  through  his  head ;  but  worse  cases  than  this 
have  occurred,  and  the  patients  are  alive  and  well  to- 
day," replied  the  surgeon. 

The  wounded  man  was  taken  up  and  borne  to  a  bed  in 
the  chamber  with  Maud's  other  patients ;  after  which 
the  soldiers  received  some  attention. 


THE   FOR  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  181 


CHAPTER     XII. 


THE    COUNCIL   OF    OFFICERS. 


OMERS  heard  all  that  was  said  in  the  front 
room,  and  judged  from  that,  and  the  sounds 
Avhich  reached  him,  what  was  taking  place  there. 
The  two  men  who  were  stunned  came  to  their  senses, 
after  a  while,  and  they  were  sent  off  with  the  dead  and 
the  wounded  ones ;  for  it  appeared  that  the  general 
wanted  the  apartment  for  a  consultation  Avith  his  officers. 
It  was  expected  that  Major  Riggleston  would  be  present 
^t  this  place  with  fresh  information  from  the  Yankee 
lines  ;  and  the  listener  congratulated  himself  that  he  had 
been  able  to  disappoint  them  in  this  respect. 

The  major  had  chosen  the  ravine  for  his  passage 
through  the  pickets,  and  it  was  now  evident  that  he  in- 
tended to  resume  his  work  as  soon  as  he  had  disposed  of  % 
his  prisoner.  The  fellow  was  armed  with  a  pass,  and, 
Somcrs  well  knew,  was  regarded  in  the  loyal  lines  as  a 
major  of  the  — nd  Maryland  Home  Brigade,  and  could 
therefore  go  where  he  pleased,  even  into  the  very  councils 
of  the  general  commanding  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 


132  FIOHTIXO   JOE,    OR 

Somers  believed  he  had  made  a  great  discovery.  The 
rebels  always  knew  precisely  when  and  where  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  were  ffoin":  to  move.  "When  McClellan  had 
actually  made  up  his  mind  to  attack  the  forces  fortified 
at  Manassas,  they  suddenly  decamped.  All  his  move- 
ments for  months  were  mysteriously  communicated  to 
the  enemy,  even  before  the  general  officers  of  the  loyal 
army  were  informed  in  regard  to  them.  People  won- 
dered, the  press  commented  severely,  and  the  govern- 
ment was  perplexed. 

Captain  Somers  thought  he  understood  all  about  it 
now,  and  believed  that  he  had  laid  out  the  man  who  had 
done  all  this  mischief.  Much  as  we  admire  the  captain, 
our  hero,  we  are  compelled  to  say  that  he  was  mistaken. 
He  had  really  made  no  such  discovery,  and  had  achieved 
no  such  tremendous  result  as  the  killing  of  the  one  who 
had  done  this  immense  injury  to  the  loyal  cause,  as  fu- 
ture pages  in  our  history  will  show.  But  he  believed 
Major  Riggleston,  whom  he  had  seen  in  the  staff  of  the 
general  commanding,  was  the  man  who  had  conveyed 
all  this  information  ;  he  believed  he  had  made  this  great 
discovery,  accomplished  this  big  thing ;  and  he  took 
courage  accordingly. 

Major  Riggleston  was  not  there  to  speak  of  what  the 
Yankees  had  done,  and  what  they  intended  to  do  ;  but 
for  all  this,  the  consultation  of  officers  proceeded.  Som- 
ers heard  them  discuss  their  own  position  and  that  of  the 


THE   FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFICER.  133 

enemy ;  he  lioarJ  them  suggest  all  manuer  of  possibili- 
ties and  probabilities,  and  how  to  meet  them ;  but  they 
did  not  speak  so  definitely  as  he  Avished  they  would. 
They  aUuded  to  a  line  of  field-works,  whieh  the  lis- 
tener  was   unable   to  locate. 

•  Somers  was  coiled  up  behind  a  chest  of  drawers,  and 
did  not  concern  himself  at  all  about  his  personal  safety. 
He  was  too  deeply  interested  in  the  labors  of  the  council 
to  think  of  himself.  He  had  a  tolerably  good  idea  of 
the  rebel  plans,  and  wondered  whether  the  man  who  Avas 
called  ''general"  was  really  Stonewall  Jackson.  He 
could  not  reach  a  satisfactory  conclusion  on  this  point, 
but  he  was  strongly  in  favor  of  the  supposition. 

*'  It  is  one  o'clock,  and  we  must  get  a  little  sleep," 
said  the  mysterious  general,  as  Somers  heard  the  rattling 
of  chairs  when  they  rose  from  the  table. 

"  Some  of  us  will  probably  make  a  long  sleep  of  it 
to-morrow,"  added  one  of  the  officers. 

"  Don't  trifle  with  a  matter  so  serious,"  continued  the 
general,  solemnly.  "  Ah,  here  is  the  colonel,"  he  added, 
as  the  door  opened,  and  two  or  three  persons  entered  the 
house.  "  AVhat  news  do  you  bring?  Have  you  cap- 
tured those  Yankees?" 

"  1  have  neither  captured  them  nor  heard  a  word  of 
them.  xsot  a  soul  within  our  lines  knows  anything 
about  them,"  replied  the  colonel,  in  tones  of  disgust  and 
mortification. 

12 


134  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  That's  singular.  Our  sentinels  are  sleepy ;  they 
must  be  stirred  up.  The  miscreants  had  not  been  gone 
from  this  house  more  than  twenty  minutes  when  we  ar- 
rived, according  to  the  statement  of  the  lady." 

"  Nothing  Avas  ever  more  thoroughly  done  than  the 
search  we  made ;  but  I  am  positive  they  have  got 
through." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  suggested  the  general. 

"  I  have  searched  every  house,  grove,  and  clump  of 
trees  ;  every  hole,  ditch,  and  cornfield  Avithin  two  miles 
of  this  spot.  I  am  satisfied,  but  I  believe  there  are 
traitors  within  our  camp.  They  could  not  have  got 
through  Avithout  help   from  our  side  of  the  line." 

"  We  will  look  into  that  matter  at  the  first  oppor- 
tunity," replied  the  general,  with  a  long  gape. 

^They  left  the  house  in  a  body,  and  all  was  silent 
■within,  except  the  step  of  Maud  Hasbrouk,  as  she  at- 
tended to  the  Avants  of  the  sufferers  in  her  care.  Som- 
ers  had  done  all  he  could  do  in  this  place,  and  he  Avas 
satisfied  that  the  search  for  himself  and  Captain  Bark- 
wood  had  been  abandoned.  He  craAvled  out  of  the 
corner  in  Avhich  he  had  been  coiled  away  for  over  tAvo 
hours,  intent  upon  the  great  duty  Avhich  Avas  stiU  in  a 
measure  unperformed.  He  had  some  doubts  AA'hether 
his  friend  in  the  closet  had  been  patient  under  the  long 
delay ;  and  he  Avas  in  haste  to  relieA^e  him  from  the  sus- 
pense and  discomfort  of  his  situation. 


THE    fORTL'yES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  135 

There  ^vas  no  one  iu  the  house  but  Maud  and  her 
three  patients.  There  was,  therefore,  nothing  to  fear, 
and  he  crept  towards  the  door  leading  from  the  entry 
into  the  kitchen.  He  softly  opened  it,  and  was  stealthily 
makin<'-  his  way  towards  the  shed,  when  the  door  of  the 
front  room  was  thrown  wide  open,  and  Maud,  apparently 
in  a  great  hurry,  stepped  into  the  kitchen.  She  had  a 
bowl  in  her  hand,  and  was  intent  upon  the  object  which 
had  brought  her  there,  so  that  she  did  not  at  first  see 
Somers,  who  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 

When  she  discovered  him  she  screamed,  and  started 
back  in  astonishment  and  terror,  dropping  the  dish ; 
but  she  still  held  the  light  Avhich  she  had  brought  from 
the  sick  room.  Somers  regarded  the  meeting  as  a  very 
unfortunate  occurrence,  and  wished  he  had  been  prudent 
enough  to  go  out  at  the  front  door  ;  but  it  was  too  late 
to  indulfije  iu  vain  recrrets,  and  the  situation  was  suf- 
ficiently  perilous  to  induce  him  to  resort  at  once  to 
decisive  measures,  for  the  tongue  of  the  woman  was 
hardly  less  dangerous  than  a  squad  of  rebel  cavalry. 

"Who  are  you?"  asked  the  lady,  when  she  had  re- 
covered herself  sufficiently  to  speak. 

"  It  matters  not  who  I  am,"  replied  Somers,  ais- 
guising  his  voice  as  much  as  he  could. 

"  Captain  Somers  I "  exclaimed  she,  shrinking  back 
still  farther. 

*'  I  am  sorry,  for  your  sake,  that  you  have  recognized 


136  FlGHTiyC   JOE,    OR 

me,"  replied  he,  dropping  the  collar  of  his  coat,  which 
,  he  had  drawn  up  over  his  face.     *'  Miss  Hasbrouk,  your 
discovery  endangers  my  life ;  I  am  compelled  either  to 
shoot  you,  or  —  " 

"  To  shoot  me  !  "  exclaimed  she,  with  horror. 
1      ''What  is  the  matter,  Maud?"  said  a  voice  from  the 
front  room,  which  was  followed  by  the  appearance  of 
Major  Riggleston,  whose  head  was  tied  up  with  bandages, 
as  the  surgeon  had  dressed  it. 

"  It  is  Captain  Somers,"  said  she,  in  trembling  tones. 

"  It  seems  that  I  did  not  fully  do  my  work,"  added 
Somers,   taking  a  pistol  from  his  belt. 

"  Don't  fire,  Somers,  don't,"  said  the  major,  in  tones 
so  feeble  and  piteous  that  Somers  could  not  help  being 
moved  by  them.  "  You  have  nearly  killed  me  now,  and 
you  ought  to  be  satisfied." 

"  It  is  your  life  or  mine.  Major  Riggleston,  and  I 
have  no  time  to  argue  the  matter.  In  five  minutes 
more  you  will  have  the  whole  Confederate  army  at  my 
heels.  I  run  no  risks  with  a  villain  like  you,"  replied 
Somers. 

"  Don't  fire  ! "  begged  Maud ;  "I  will  do  anything 
you  desire,   if  you  will  spare  me." 

It  was  something  to  see  a  brawling  rebel  woman,  the 
most  pestilent  and  inveterate  enemy  the  government  had 
in  the  contest,  in  a  pleading  posture.  It  was  something 
to  expose  the  ridiculous  pretensions  of  one  of  that  army 


THE    FORTUSES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICE  It  137 

of  female  rebels,  fiercer  aud  more  vindictive  than  the 
men,  and  to  demonstrate  that  she  had  none  of  the  coura'>-e 
of  which  she  liad  boasted.  Maud  regretted  that  her  sex 
compelled  her  to  be  a  non-combatant ;  it  avAs  doubtiul 
whether   she  "would  ever  again  regret  it. 

"  I  wish  not  to  take  the  life  of  either  of  you  ;  but  my 
own  safety  compels  me  to  use  strong  measures,"  said 
Somers,  as  he  cocked  his  pistol. 

"  For  mercy's  sake,  don't  fire  !  "  gasped  Maud. 

"  Don't  kill  me,  Somers ;  I  will  pledge  you  my  word 
and  honor  not  to  expose  you,"  added  the  major. 

"  What  are  your  Avord  and  honor  good  for,  after  what 
has  happened  this  night?  "  sneered  Somers. 

"  I  will  give  you  all  the  information  you  require,  if 
you  will  spare   my  life." 

"  That  would  not  save  my  life." 

*'  I  will  give  you  the  countersign." 

*'  That's  something  towards  it." 

The  wretch  gave  him  the  word,  and  while  he  received 
it,  he  despised  the  major  more  than  ever  before.  Ho 
was  now  a  traitor  to  both  sides  ;  but  all  this,  and  more, 
would  he  give  in  exchange  for  his  life.  Somers  then 
questioned  him  in  regard  to  the  position  of  various  bodies 
of  rebel  troops,  and  the  miscreant  answered  him  promptly, 
and,  as  it  was  afterwards  shown,  correctly. 

"  You  know  me  now.  Major  Higgleston  and  Miss  Has- 
brouk ;  and  you  must  understand  that  I  go  about  with 
12* 


138  FIGHTIXG  JOE,    OR    * 

my  life  in  my  hand.  I  am  not  to  be  trifled  with.  I  will 
not  take  your  life  yet." 

"  I  will  swear  never  to  reveal  your  presence  to  a  living 
soul,"  exclaimed  the  major. 

"  You  need  not ;  you  have  given  me  better  security 
than  your  oath  that  you  will  not  expose  me.  If  I  am 
taken,  I  shall  be  taken  with  the  countersign  in  my  keep- 
ing. I  had  it  from  you.  If  you  have  given  me  the 
wrong  word,   I  shall  be  turned  back." 

"  I  have  given  you  the  right  word,"  interposed  the 
major. 

''  If  I  am  turned  back,  I  shall  come  here  first,  and 
complete  my  work,"  added  Somers,  sternly. 

"  You  ^hall  have  my  pass." 

"  I  have  it  already.  I  have  not  yet  exhausted  all  my 
resources,"  said  the  scout,  producing  the  two  passes, 
which  he  had  neglected  to  return  in  the  ravine. 

He  opened  them  ;  but  though  the  wounded  major  was 
surprised,  he  was  too  weak  and  broken  in  spirits  to  ask 
any  questions,  or  even  to  care  where  his  late  companion 
had  procured  them. 

*'  All  I  ask  of  you.  Major  Riggleston,  and  of  you, 
Miss  Hasbrouk,  is  to  keep  still,"  continued  Somers. 

"  I  will,"  replied  Maud,  eagerly. 

"  And  I  will.  Captain  Somers.  "What  I  have  done 
here  to  save  my  life  has  ruined  me.  I  shall  never  be 
seen  in  the  service  again." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  139 

"  I  think  you  are  coming  to  your  senses,  major." 

"  May  I  ask  you  to  keep  quiet  in  regard  to  -what  I 
have  done?  for  you  know  the  penalty  of  that  wliicli  I 
could  not  have  done  if  I  had  not  stood  on  the  brink  of 
the  open  grave.'* 

*'  That  will  depend  on  your  own  conduct.  Return  to 
your  bed ;  and  if  you  are  treacherous,  you  will  suffer 
for  it." 

*'  I  may  die,"  groaned  the  major,  who  had  sunk  into  a 
chair,  for  he  believed  his  wound  was  much  worse  than 
it  really  was. 

Perhaps  some  twinges  of  remorse  had  induced  him  to 
aid  Somers  in  his  mission  more  than  he  otherwise  would  ; 
he  was  not  a  man  of  nerve,  or  a  man  of  much  nobility 
of  purpose,  and  his  severe  wound  had  worked  a  great 
change  in  his  moral  and  mental  organization.  The  fear 
of  death  had  deprived  him  of  what  little  manliness  he 
possessed,  and  under  the  pressure  of  that  terror,  he  had 
sunk  lower  down  in  the  scale  of  humanity  than  it  would 
have  been  possible  for  him  under  any  other  circum- 
stances. He  had  absolutely  betrayed  the  cause  for  which 
he  professed  so  earnest  and  sincere  a  devotion.  His 
boasted  honor  was  a  delusion.  He  was  an  exception, 
even  in   the  ranks   of  southern  heroes. 

Somers  was  satisfied  with  what  was  promised,  and 
with  what  had  already  been  performed.  He  restored  his 
pistol  to  his  belt,  and  hastened  to  the  back  room,  where 


140  FIGHTISG    JOE,    OR 

Captain  Barkwood  ^vas  no  doubt  anxiously  waiting  to 
hear  from  him. 

"  Come  out,  captain,"  said  he,  as  he  threw  open  the 
door. 

"Is  that  you,  Somers?"  replied  the  regular,  as  he 
stepped  from  his  narrow  quarters.  "  1  had  given  you  up 
for  lost,  and  was  just  thinking  of  engaging  in  a  little 
enterprise  of  my  own.     "Where  have  you  been?" 

Somers,  as  briefly  as  possible,  explained  the  events 
that  had  transpired  during  his  absence,  to  which  the 
resrular  listened  with  wonder  and  admiration.  It  was 
now  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  there  was  much 
still  to  be  done  before  they  could  return  to  the  camp. 
Somers,  still  wearing  the  coat  and  feathered  hat  of  Major 
Riggleston,  left  the  back  room,  followed  by  Barkwood, 
and  for  three  hours  wandered  about  the  camps  of  the 
rebels.  They  were  often  challenged  ;  but  Somers  gave 
his  name  as  Major  Riggleston,  and  produced  the  pass 
when  called  upon,  or  gave  the  countersign.  The  day 
was  breaking  in  the  east  when  they  finished  the  exam- 
ination. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  141 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    AN'TIETAM. 


CylCV'V  E   have  been   detained  a   long   time,"   said 
11/ ill     Somers,    when    they   reached    the    ravine 


through  which  it  was  necessary  to  pass  on 
their  return  ;  for  it  was  not  likely  that  the  rebel  pickets 
would  permit  even  the  ubiquitous  Major  Riggleston  to 
go  over  to  the  Yankees. 

'*  Too  long,  too  long,"  replied  the  regular,  rather  ner- 
vously for  him.  "  I  am  afraid  we  are  too  late  to  be  of 
much  service." 

"  The  general  grinds  up  his  information  rapidly.  If 
we  see  him  before  he  commences  the  action,  we  shall  be 
all  right." 

Slowly  and  carefully  they  worked  their  way  through 
the  ravine,  for  they  felt  that  they  were  treasure-houses 
of  information,  which  must  not  be  needlessly  exposed  to 
destruction  ;  and  a  little  hurrying  not  only  imperilled 
their  own  lives,  but  endangered  the  good  cause  to  which 
both  of  the  scouts  were  devoted.  AVith  all  the  haste 
which  the  circumstances   w^ould   permit,  it  was   broad 


142  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

daylight  when  they  emerged  from  the  ravine  within  the 
Union  lines. 

They  hurried  to  headquarters.  Though  no  drums  beat 
or  bugles  sounded,  the  note  of  preparation  had  passed 
silently  along  the  lines.  The  orders  of  the  general  had 
been  fully  and  carefully  executed,  and  brigades  and  di- 
visions Avere  in  column,  ready  for  the  advance.  "  Fight- 
ing Joe  "  and  his  staff  were  already  in  the  saddle  ;  and 
half  a  mile  off,  on  a  little  eminence,  Somers  discovered 
the  general  on  his  white  steed.  Alick  had  groomed  his 
horse  and  saddled  him,  though  with  many  fears  that  his 
master  would  never  return  to  use  him  again. 

As  Somers  approached,  the  faithful  fellow  saw^  him, 
and  led  up  the  horse.  He  was  overjoyed  to  see  him 
once  more,  and  made  a  beautiful  exhibition  of  ivory  on 
this  interesting  occasion.  The  young  staff  officer,  nearly 
exhausted  after  the  perils  and  labors  of  the  night,  filled 
his  haversack  with  "  hard  tack,"  and  leaped  into  the 
saddle.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  be  lost,  and  he 
dashed  away  toAvards  the  spot  where  the  general  was 
busily  employed  in  making  his  preparations  for  the 
attack. 

The  excitement  of  the  moment  enabled  him  to  triumph 
over  the  bodily  fatigue  Avhich  had  weighed  him  down, 
and  he  urixed  on  the  noble  animal  he  rode  to  his  utmost 
speed.  The  horse  seemed  to  participate  in  the  interest 
and  excitement  of  the  occasion,  and  galloped  as  though 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  143 

he  was  conscious  of  the  importance  of  his  master's  mis- 
sion. As  he  approached  the  spot  where  the  general  and 
his  staff  stood,  Somers  reined  in  liis  steed,  and  nearly 
threw  him  back  upon  his  haunches,  when  he  raised  his 
sword  to  give  his  commander  the  usual  salute.  It  was 
a  proud,  a  triumphant  moment  for  him  ;  and  the  gallant 
steed  behaved  as  though  it  was  his  duty  to  make  the 
utmost  display  as  he  introduced  his  rider  to  the  general. 

"  Captain  Somers  !  "  exclaimed  the  general.  "  I  gave 
you  up  this  morning  when  I  learned  that  you  had  not 
been  heard  from." 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  have  fully  per- 
formed the  duty  intrusted  to  me,"  replied  Somers,  em- 
ploying rather  more  formality  than  usual  in  his  address. 

The  scout  gave  his  information,  the  most  important 
parts  of  which  were  the  fact  that  Stonewall  Jackson's 
troops  were  concentrated  on  a  fortified  line,  and  that 
General  Lee  had  massed  his  entire  force  behind  the 
crests  of  the  hill,  in  readiness  for  the  great  battle,  which 
was  apparently  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  natioja. 

Then  commenced  that  greatest  and  most  momentous 
battle  of  the  series  of  engagements  in  Maryland,  which 
checked  the  invasion,  and  drove  the  rebels  from  the 
north  to  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  a  fearful 
strife,  a  most  determined  battle,  fought  with  a  bravery, 
on  both  sides,  bordering  upon  desperation.  The  event 
was  to  involve  a  mighty  issue  —  no  less  than  the  fate  of 


144  FIOHTINO   JOE,    OR 

a  great  nation  ;  for  the  moral  effect  of  a  victory  by  the 
rebels  on  the  soil  of  the  North  would  be  disastrous,  if  not 
fatal,  to  the  loyal  cause,  while  it  would  open  to  the  half 
starved  and  impoverished  Confederacy  the  vast  store- 
houses of  wealth  of  the  free  North. 

Those  who  fought  on  that  day,  from  the  skilful  gen- 
erals, who  directed  the  operations,  to  the  humblest  pri- 
vate, who  cheerfully  and  zealously  obeyed  the  orders  of 
bis  superiors  in  the  midst  of  the  terrible  carnage  of  the 
battle-field,  understood  and  appreciated  the  issues  of  that 
day.  The  sons  of  the  republic  will  gratefully  remember 
them  all,  and  none  with  a  more  lively  sense  of  obligation 
than  "  Fighting  Joe,"  whose. skill  and  judgment,  no  less 
than  his  heroic  bravery,  brought  victory  out  of  the  stub- 
born fight  intrusted  to  him,  upon  which,  more  than  upon 
the  operations  of  any  other  portion  of  the  line,  the  fate 
of  the  day  rested.  Hq^was  face  to  face  with  Stonewall 
Jackson,  the  most  vigorous  and  determined  leader  of  the 
Confederacy,  the  pet  of  tlje  rebels,  and  the  hope  of  the 
commanding'  general  of  the  invading  hordes.  He  was 
pitted  against  this  man,  wlio  ^yas  the  executive  of  Lee's 
brain,  without  whom  Lee's  strategy  lost  its  power. 

The  battle  on  the  right  was  fought  and  won,  but  not 
till  mighty  sacrifices  had  been  made  of  precious  life.  It 
was  one  of  the  most  obstinate  conflicts  of  the  war ;  and 
for  hours  the  issue  swung  back  and  forth,  and  it  was 
doubtful  upon  which  side  it  would  rest.     The  first  corps 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  145 

went  forward  and  were  driven  back  in  places  ;  divisions 
were  reduced  to  brigades,  and  brigades  to  regiments,  be- 
fore the  terrible  lire  of  the  rebels  ;  and  nothing  but  the 
indomitable  will  and  the  admirable  skill  of  the  gen- 
eral saved  the  day.  Every  weak  point  in  the  line  was 
strengthened,  every  advantage  Mas  used,  and  every  dis- 
advantage counterbalanced,  tiU  a  splendid  triumph  was 
achieved. 

Stonewall  Jackson  was  ably  and  prudently  supported 
by  General  Lee  ;  troops  from  other  portions  of  the  line 
were  sent  to  this  imperilled  position,  in  a  vain  attempt 
to  save  the  failing  fortunes  of  the  day.  Fresh  troops 
were  from  time  to  time  hurled  against  the  hard-pressed 
brigades  of  the  first  corps,  which  Avcre  forced  back,  but 
only  to  be  again  strengthened  and  urged  on  by  the  mas- 
terly genius  of  "  Fighting  Joe,"  until  all  that  had  been 
lost  was  retrieved.  Later  in  the  dav,  when  the  attack 
was  made  by  the  left  and  centre,  the  rebel  line  had  been 
weakened  by  the  large  drafts  required  to  meet  the  waste 
on  the  right,  and  of  course  the  resistance  was  corre- 
spondingly diminished.  With  less  stubborn  and  skilful 
fighting  than  that  done  on  the  right,  the  assaults  of 
Burnside  on  the  left,  and  of  French  and  Richardson  in 
the  centre,  could  hardly  have  been  successful. 

The  noble  and  gallant  Burnside  won  immortal  honors 
on  that  terrific   day.     He  fought  against  every  disad- 
vantage, which  he  bravely  and  skilfully  overcame.     The 
13 


146  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

result  of  the  battle  was  less  decisive  than  had  been 
hoped  and  expected  from  the  splendid  fighting  and  the 
brilliant  partial  results  achieved.  The  rebel  army  "vvas 
severely  handled ;  its  resources  and  its  ■prestige  tre- 
mendously reduced  ;  and  the  object  of  the  campaign  Avas 
actually  accomplished  ;  but  whether  the  results  of  the 
several  successful  operations  on  the  field  were  prudently 
agglomerated,  -whether  the  greatest  practicable  use  was 
made  of  the  victory,  we  must  leave  the  historian  to 
decide. 

While  Captain  Somers  was  making  his  report,  Cap- 
tain Barkwood  arrived,  and  was  congratulated  upon  his 
safety  and  success.  As  an  engineer  he  gave  his  opinion, 
and  was  able  to  supply  information  which  Somers  had 
not  the  scientific  skill  to  deduce  from  what  he  had  seen. 
The  order  was  given  to  advance.  The  eye  of  the  gen- 
eral was  everywhere,  even  while  his  mind  was  occupied 
with  the  details  furnished  by  the  scouts.  He  sent  mem- 
bers of  his  staff  in  every  direction.  He  held  the  vast 
and  complicated  mechanism  of  his  corps  at  his  fingers' 
ends.  He  knew  where  every  brigade  and  every  battery 
of  his  force  was  at  that  moment,  and  where  it  was  to  be 
an  hour  hence.  He  moved  them  all  about,  as  a  skilful 
weaver  tosses  the  many  shuttles,  each  with  a  different 
colored  thread,  throuj^h  the  fabric  before  him.  He  was 
"weaving  history  on  a  gigantic  scale.  **' 

Somers  sat  upon  his  restless  horse,  eating  the  "  hard 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  147 

tack  "  he  had  brought,  but  ready  to  dash  away  upon  any 
mission  on  which  he  might  be  sent,  when  an  aid  from 
the  general  commanding  rode  up  and  delivered  an  order 
to  the  commander  of  the  corps.  Somers  did  not  par- 
ticularly notice  him  at  first,  but  as  the  staff  ofiicer  turned, 
his  teeth  suddenly  suspended  their  useful  and  interesting 
occupation,  leaving  his  mouth  half  open,  where  it  re- 
mained in  the  condition  to  express  the  wonder  and 
astonishment  which  the  presence  of  the  officer  excited. 

"  Major  Riggleston  !  "  exclaimed  he,  almost  choking 
himself  with  the  unmasticated  block  of  "hard  tack"  in 
his  mouth. 

*'  Captain  Somers,  good  morning,"  replied  the  major, 
with  a  pleasant  and  friendly  smile. 

*'  Is  it  possible  ?  "  stammered  Somers. 

"  What  possible?"  demanded  Riggleston. 

"  That  you  are  here,"  replied  the  bewildered  Somers, 
gazing  at  the  major  attentively,  and  surveying  him  from 
head  to  foot. 

It  was  the  same  new  and  bright  uniform  which  the 
major  had  worn  when  they  met  on  previous  occasions  on 
the  road  ;  it  was  not  the  same  which  he  had  worn  in  the 
rebel  lines,  or  at  the  Hasbrouk  mansion  ;  but  the  face 
was  the  same,  the  whiskers  and  mustache  were  the 
same  in  cut  and  color ;  and  Somers,  in  spite  of  the 
doubt  which  at  first  assailed  him,  was  even  now  ready 
to  make  oath  that  he  was  the  same  man  he  had  shot  in 
the  head  the  preceding  evening. 


148  FIGHTIXO   JOE,    OR 

"  Why  shouldn't  I  be  here,  my  dear  fellow?"  laughed 
the  major.  "  We  arc  going  to  have  hot  work  about  here 
to-day." 

"  IIow  is  your  head,  major?  "  demanded  Somers,  who 
could  think  of  nothing  at  this  moment  but  the  amazing 
fact  that  he  again  stood  in  the  presence  of  Major  Rig- 
gleston. 

"  Cool  and  clear,  I  hope,"  replied  the  major. 

*'  How  is  your  wound  ?  " 

*' What  wound?" 

*'  Didn't  you  receive  a  wound  in  the  head  last  even- 
ing?" 

"  Upon  my  word  I  did  not,  that  I  am  aware  of." 

*'  "Will  you  excuse  me.  Major  Rign^leston,  if  I  ask  you 
to  remove  your  hat  for  a  moment?  "  said  Somers,  as  he 
moved  his  horse  up  to  the  side  of  the  major's. 

*'  Certainly  ;  with  pleasure,"  replied  the  staff  officer, 
as  he  took  off  his  hat. 

There  Avas  no  bandage,  nor  any  appearance  of  a  wound. 
Somers  Avas  more  bewildered  than  ever,  and  was  dis- 
posed to  do  what  heroes  in  the  romances  do  when  any- 
thing looks  astonishingly  mysterious  —  ascribe  the  de- 
lusion to  a  dream.  .But  he  was  tired  enough  from  the 
exertions  of  the  night  to  convince  him  that  all  which  had 
occurred  within  the  rebel  lines  was  a  reality. 

"Will  you  allow  me  to  examine  your  head?"  asked 
he,  utterly  unable  to  see  through  the  dark  problem. 


THE    FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  149 

"  I  will  do  even  that  with  pleasure,  Captain  Somers ; 
though  I  think  you  arc  a  little  beside  yourself,"  laughed 
the  major. 

Somers  reached  forward,  and  put  his  hand  on  the  part 
of  the  major's  head  where  the  pistol  ball  had  struck 
him  ;  but  there  was  not  the  slightest  abrasion  of  the 
skin  ;  in  a  word,  the  head  was  in  good  order  and  con- 
dition, and  it  was  absolutely  certain  that  no  bullet  had 
passed  through  his  skull. 

"  I  am  satisfied,  Major  Riggleston,"  replied  Somers, 
though  he  was  still  in  a  bewildered  state  of  mind.  "  I 
owe  you  an  apology  for  the  rude  treatment  to  which  I 
subjected  you  on  a  former  occasion.  You  are  not  the 
man  I  took  you  to  be  ;  and  I  hope  you  will  pardon 
my  rough  speech  and  unfriendly  manners." 

"  Cheerfully,  Captain  Somers.  Here  is  my  hand," 
replied  the  major,  evidently  as  much  pleased  to  forgive 
as  the  scout  was  to  be  forgiven. 

*'  I  am  satisfied  now." 

*'  But  I  am  not,"  responded  the  major. 

"  Last  night,  about  eleven  o'clock,  I  shot  you  through 
the  head,"  said  Somers,  facetiously. 

"  Me !  " 

"  Yes,  you  !  " 

"  Well,  perhaps  you  did  ;  but  I  did  not  feel  it." 

*'  1  was  willing,  a  moment  ago,  to  give  my  affidavit 
that  you  were  the  person.  I  was  mistaken  this  time,  as 
13* 


150  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

I  was  yesterday  when  I  accused  you  of  being  a  traitor. 
By  the  way,  Major  Riggleston,"  added  Somers,  as  he 
took  from  his  pocket  the  two  passes  he  had  received 
from  the  mysterious  personage  in  the  ravine,  and  select- 
ing the  Union  one,  handed  it  to  his  companion,  "  is 
this  document  yours?" 

"  It  is,"  replied  the  major,  glancing  at  the  pass. 
"  Where   did   you   get   this  ? " 

"  Is  this  yours?"  continued  Somers,  handing  him  the 
other  pass. 

"  No  ;  this  is  a  rebel  pass,"  answered  the  major.  "  I 
never  saw  it  before,  and  have  no  occasion  for  a  paper 
of  this  description.     Where  did  you  get  the  other?" 

"  You  gave  it  to  me  last  night,"  laughed  Somers. 

"  I'm  sure  I  did  not." 

"  Captain  Somers,"  called  the  general ;  and  the  in- 
terview w^as  abruptly  terminated. 


THE   FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  151 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


THE    BATTLE    ON   THE   RIGHT. 


y^t^HE  Pennsylvania  Reserves,  commanded  by  Gen- 
#1 1  eral  Meade,  occupied  the  centre  of  the  line  of 
\Jjy  the  first  corps.  They  were  a  noble  body  of 
troops,  and  had  done  some  of  the  most  splendid  fighting 
of  the  war  on  the  Peninsula,  and  in  the  bloody  but  inde- 
cisive battles  of  Pope's  campaign.  Captain  Somers,  as 
if  in  compliment  to  him  for  his  zeal  and  his  energy,  was 
sent  to  bear  the  order  for  this  division  to  advance. 

The  Reserves  moved  forward  with  a  hearty,  cheerful 
zeal ;  and  presently  the  thunder  of  their  artillery,  and 
the  rattling  volleys  of  musketry,  proclaimed  the  com- 
mencement of  the  conflict.  A  portion  of  Stonewall 
Jackson's  command  was  before  them  —  men  who  always 
fought  with  the  energy  of  desperation.  They  were  a 
worthy  foe,  and  worthily  were  they  met ;  but  the  rebels 
had  the  advantage.  Their  renowned  leader  had  chosen 
their  position,  and  the  brave  Pennsylvanians  suffered 
terribly. 

"  Fighting  Joe,"  on  his  white  charger,  rode  up  to  the 


152  FIGHTING    JOE,    OB 

position  in  the  front  of  the  battle.  He  was  calm  and 
unmoved  in  the  shower  of  bullets,  and  the  troops  were 
gladdened  and  encouraged  by  his  presence.  They  were 
strong  without  him  ;  they  were  stronger  Avith  him.  He 
gave  off  his  orders  with  the  utmost  coolness,  and  spoke 
words  of  fire,  which  burned  in  the  souls  of  the  men.  He 
was  there,  —  the  idol  of  the  army,  —  and  there  was  not  a 
man  who  would  not  have  been  ashamed  to  skulk  with 
this  noble  example  before  him.  The  mighty  will  of  the 
general  was  communicated  to  the  nerves  and  the  muscles 
of  his  soldiers,  and  he  multiplied  himself  thousands  of 
times  in  the  persons  of  his  devoted 'followers. 

Still  they  moved  on,  Meade's  division,  supported  by 
that  of  Ricketts,  nearer  to  the  woods  where  the  rebels 
were  concentrated  ;  and  still  they  poured  in  the  deadly 
volleys,  until  the  resistance  before  them  was  sensibly 
diminished. 

"  Forward  !  "  was  the  word  that  rang  along  the  line  ; 
and  the  Reserves,  supported  by  two  of  Ricketts's  brigades, 
rushed  on  with  cheers,  and  entered  the  oak  grove.  The 
rebels  were  falling  back  before  them,  and  they  rushed 
through  the  woods,  across  the  open  field  on  the  other 
side,  and  still  onward  to  the  woods  beyond  the  field.  But 
here  they  were  thrown  upon  bodies  of  fresh  troops, 
hurried  up  to  meet  them.  From  the  dark  shadows  of 
the  wood  came  showers  of  bullets  from  a  sheet  of  flaming 
fire.     The  grove  was  packed  with  rebels  ;  the  Reserves 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  153 

seemed  to  melt  away  like  frost  before  the  sunlight,  ia 
that  galHng  fire.  They  closed  up  their  shattered  lines, 
and  fell  doggedly  back,  pouring  in  volley  after  volley 
upon  the  dense  masses. 

The  fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  suddenly  to  have  been 
reversed  ;  what  had  been  victory  a  moment  before,  now 
became  defeat.  Stonewall  Jackson's  entire  line  ■was 
advancing  with  those  fiendish  yells  which  distinguish  the 
rebel  onslaught.  It  was  a  critical  moment  in  the  fortunes 
of  the  day  ;  but  the  genius  of  the  man  who  held  the 
reins  in  his  hands  was  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  was 
not  a  mile  iu  the  rear ;  he  Avas  in  the  front,  where  he 
could  see  the  indications  of  threatening  disaster ;  where 
he  could  promptly  meet  and  counteract  the  elements  of 
defeat  which  had  begun  to   manifest  themselves. 

"  Captain  Somers,"  said  he,  in  his  calm  but  earnest 
tones. 

Somers  spurred  forward  his  horse,  and  saluting  the 
general,  stood  in  readiness  for  his  commands. 

"  Tell  General  Ricketts  to  send  me  his  best  brigade 
instantly." 

It  rained  shot  and  shell  on  the  hill-side  as  Somers 
dashed  away  to  execute  the  order.  Presently  the  "  best 
brinjade,"  consisting?  of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  Mas- 
sachusetts,  the  ninth  New  York,  and  the  eleventh  Penn- 
sylvania, under  the  command  of  General  Ilartsuff, 
double-quicked  down  the  hill,  amid  the  falling  shot  and 


154  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

bursting  shell,  which  crashed  fearfully  through  the  trees, 
and  tore  up  the  earth  in  their  mad  fliglit.  They  were 
veteran  troops,  commanded  by  a  veteran  soldier  of  skill 
and  bravery.  They  passed  the  general  on  their  march, 
and  his  eye  lighted  up  with  satisfaction  as  he  saw  the 
spirit  which  they  manifested. 

"  I  think  they  will  hold  the  ground,"  said  he,  as  Gen- 
eral Hartsuff,  passing  the  shattered  lines  of  the  Reserves, 
drew  up  his  brigade  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  between 
them  and  the  exultant  foe. 

They  fired  in  volleys  at  first,  and  then  at  will ;  but 
they  did  their  work  most  heroically.  None  flinched  ; 
none  fled.  The  rebels  pushed  forward  their  flushed 
troops  ;  but  these  gallant  fellows  stormed  them  with  bul- 
lets, and,  assisted  by  the  brigades  of  Gibbons  and 
Patrick,  repelled  the  assault.  Jackson's  line  suffered 
severely,  and  a  large  number  of  field  officers  were  killed 
in  vain  attempts  to  rally  them.  The  rebels  fell  back 
again  to  the  woods  from  which  they  had  come,  and  again 
this  part  of  the  line  was  safe.  There  had  been  a  terrible 
loss  in  the  gallant  brigade  which  held  the  brow  of  the 
hill,  and  General  Hartsuff  was  severely  wounded  early 
in  the  action. 

The  general  of  the  corps  had  saved  his  line  in  this 
place  —  had  brought  a  success  out  of  a  reverse  ;  but  his 
brain  was  still  active.  Batteries  rushed  like  a  train  of 
meteors  over  the  field,  obedient  to  his  ready  thought. 


THE   FOETUSES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  155 

Messages  of  varied  import  came  to  liiin  from  division 
commanders.  Ricketts  was  hard  pressed  —  could  barely 
hold  his  position  ;  and  a  portion  of  Mansfield's  corps  was 
sent  to  his  aid.  The  venerable  soldier  went  with  two  of 
his  brigades  ;  but  he  was  mortally  wounded,  and  was 
borne  to  the  rear. 

''  Go  to  that  regiment  on  the  right,  Captain  Somers, 
and  tell  the  colonel  not  to  let  his  men  break  on  any 
account,"  said  the  general. 

Somers  dashed  away,  and  stood  before  broken  frag- 
ments of  a  regiment,  with  hardly  a  commissioned  officer 
left  in  the  line.  They  were  noble  and  brave  fellows,  and 
they  were  yielding  only  when  there  seemed  to  be  no  one 
left  to  lead  them.  They  were  giving  way,  and  making  a 
gap  in  the  line,  through  which  the  desperate  rebels  could 
burst,  and  overwhelm  the  column. 

The  staff  officer  saw  at  a  glance  the  state  of  the  case. 
He  blamed  not  the  men  ;  it  was  the  fault  of  the  cowardly 
officer  upon  whom  the  command  had  devolved.  He  was 
weak  and  inefficient ;  at  least  he  w^as  not  man  enough  for 
such  a  trying  emergency. 

"  The  general  desires  to  hold  this  line,  at  all  hazards," 
said  Somers,  saluting  the  officer.  "  AVhere  is  the  gen- 
eral of  this  brigade  ?  " 

*'He  has  got  his  hands  full  yonder,"  replied  the 
captain  in  command  of  the  regiment. 

"  You  must  hold  this  position  without  fail." 


156  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  Can't  hold  it." 

"  Yes,  you  can  !  "  exclaimed  Somers,  fiercely. 

"  I  can't  hold  it  any  longer." 

"  Forward,  my  brave  boys.  The  day  is  ours  if  we 
stand  up  to  it  a  little  while  longer  !  "  shouted  he  to  the 
hard-pressed  troops,  whose  thin  ranks  were  rapidly 
becoming  thinner  under  the  fierce  fire  to  which  they  were 
subjected.  "  Follow  me  !  "  he  added,  in  clarion  tones, 
as  he  swung  his  sword  in  the  air. 

A  faint  cheer  burst  from  the  ranks  of  the  regiment, 
showing  that  they  had  not  wholly  lost  their  spirit.  They 
clutched  their  muskets  tighter,  and  looked  sternly  towards 
the  rebel  line. 

"  Don't  spoil  your  record  for  this  day,  my  gallant  fel- 
lows," continued  Somers.  "  You  have  done  gloriously  ; 
stick  to  it  to  the  end." 

"  "Who  are  you?  "  said  a  gruff  fellow  in  the  ranks. 

"  Captain  Somers,  of  the  general's  staff.  •  He  expects 
you  to  hold  this  line.  He  sent  me  down  to  you.  Shall 
I  tell  him  you  are  a  pack  of  cowards  ?  Or  shall  I  tell 
him  you  have  done  your  duty,  and  been  cut  to  pieces  in 
the  place  where  he  put  you  ?  " 

"  You  bet !  "  added  the  gruff  fellow.     "  Come,  boys  !  " 

"  Follow  me  !  "  shouted  Somers,  as  he  urged  his  foam- 
ing steed  through  the  ranks,  and  waved  his  sword  over 
his  head. 

"  He's  the  chap  !     Go  in,  boys,"  cried  one  of  the  men, 


THE   FOB  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  157 

as  the  ranks  closed  up,  and  they  followed  the  intrepid 
staff  ofheer  back  to  the  position  from  which  thej  had 
retreated. 

The  rebels  had  seen  the  break,  and  were  swift  to  take 
advantage  of  it.  They  rushed  forward,  whooping  like 
savages  ;  but  the  fragmentary  regiment  now  stood  like  a 
wall  of  iron,  and  poured  a  volley  into  the  advancing 
horde,   before  which  tliey  quailed,   and    then  retreated. 

"  Bravo  !  my  noble  fellows.  '  Fighting  Joe  '  is  look- 
ing at  you,  and  he  shall  know  all  about  it." 

"  Hurrah  !  "  shouted  the  brave  men,  who  had  gathered 
new  life  and  hope  from  the  inspiring  Avords  of  the  young 
staff  officer.        ^ 

*' You  will  stand  firm  —  won't  you?"  demanded 
Somers. 

"  Hurrah  !  "  yelled  the  reorganized,  revivified  little 
force,  so  heartily  that  Somers  fell  back  from  the  front  to 
return  to  his  position  at  the  side  of  the  general. 

"  Captain  Somers  !  "  said  a  familiar  voice,  almost  in  a 
yell.     "  Somers,  by  all  that  is  grand  and  beautiful !  " 

Somers  turned,  and  saw  a  man  approaching  him  from 
the  ranks  of  an  adjoining  regiment.  He  was  dressed  in 
the  uniform  of  an  officer,  but  he  had  a  musket  in  his 
hand.  He  was  begrimed  with  smoke,  and  his  cheek  was 
blackened  by  close  contact  with  the  piece  in  his  hand. 

"  Major  de  Banyan  !  "  replied  Somers,  as  his  old  friend 
U 


158  FIGHTIXO    JOE,    OR 

rushed  up  to  his  side,  and  seized  his  hand.     "  "What  are 
you  doing  here  ?  " 

*'  I  happened  up  here  on  business,  and  I  went  in  as  a 
vokmteer  on  my  own  hook,"  replied  De  Banyan,  still 
shaking  the  hand  of  the  staff  officer,  though  the  bullets 
were  whistling,  and  the  shot  and  shell  were  roaring 
around  him. 

"  That's  like  you.     Have  you  no  position?" 
''  I  am  a  private,  just  now." 

"  By  order  of  the  general  commanding  the  first  corps, 
I  place  you  in  command  of  this  broken  regiment,"  said 
Somers,  not  doubting  that  he  could  soon  procure  a  con- 
firmation of  his  deed. 

"  Good  !  that  reminds  me  —  " 

"  No,  it  don't ;  no  Avhat-you-call-ems,"  laughed  Somers. 
"  You  are  right,  Somers.     I  have  hardly  told  a  story 
since  we  parted." 

At  this  moment  the  brigadier  general  rode  up,  and 
Somers  referred  the  matter  of  the  command  to  him. 
When  he  learned  what  had  happened,  he  installed  Major 
de  Banyan  in  the  temporary  charge  of  the  regiment. 
Somers  said  a  few  words  to  the  boys,  to  reconcile  them 
to  their  new  commander.  He  told  them  who  and  what 
De  Banyan  was  ;  the  major  stepped  in  front  of  them,  and 
went  to  work  with  his  usual  skill  and  bravery.  Somers 
left  his  friend,  with  a  promise  to  see  him  again  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  rode  back  to  the  general. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  159 

There  Avas  a  certain  piece  of  avoocIs  on  the  right  Avhich 
the  general  regarded  as  the  key  to  the  position,  and 
which  he  had  determined  to  take  and  to  hold.  He  was 
in  the  act  of  riding  forward  for  the  purpose  of  examining 
this  point  in  person,  as  he  did  on  all  important  occasions. 
Somers  reported  to  him  just  as  he  was  leaving  the  front 
of  the  most  advanced  line  of  troops.  He  continued  his 
bold  reconuoissance  till  he  reached- the  top  of  the  liill, 
where  he  dismounted,  and  went  forward  on  foot.  He 
coolly  and  carefully  surveyed  the  ground,  returned  to  his 
horse,  and  remounted. 

The  storm  of  musket  balls  from  the  point  of  woods 
was  kept  up  all  this  time  with  the  most  determined  vigor. 
The  erect,  manly  form  of  "Fighting  Joe"  had  been 
conspicuous  on  the  field  all  the  morning,  and  the  rebels 
had  fired  at  him  individually  hundreds  of  times  ;  but  he 
seemed  to  have  a  charmed  life.  He  had  been  spared  to 
complete  the  work  he  had  begun,  and  which  he  had  so 
ably  and  successfully  carried  forward. 

As  he  mounted  his  horse  he  sent  Somers  off  on  a  mis- 
sion to  the  batteries  of  artillery  planted  on  the  ridge 
behind  him.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  hottest 
fires  of  the  day.  Three  men  dropped  near  the  general. 
He  turned  and  started  for  another  part  of  the  field  ;  but 
he  had  hardly  advanced  a  pace  before  he  was  struck  in 
the  foot  by  a  rifle  ball. 

"  You  are  wounded,  general,"  said  Somers,  returning 
to  the  spot. 


160  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

"  Carry  the  order  I  gave  you,  Captain  Somers," 
replied  he,  with  an  expression  of  pain  on  his  noble 
features. 

Somers  galloped  off  to  execute  his  mission. 

The  general  still  sat  his  horse,  and  gave  directions  for 
the  capture  and  holding  of  the  point  he  had  examined  at 
the  peril  of  his  precious  life.  The  surgeon  advised  him 
to  leave  the  field,  but  he  refused  to  do  so.  He  swayed 
backward  and  forward,  reeling  from  faintness  in  his 
saddle.  Still  he  looked  about  him,  to  carry  out  the  pur- 
pose which  filled  his  mind. 

"  There's  a  regiment  on  the  right  of  us.  Order  it 
forward  !  Crawford  and  Gordon  are  coming  up.  Tell 
them  to  take  those  woods,  and  hold  them  ;  and  it  is  our 
fight !  "  said  he,  feebly,  but  with  emphasis. 

He  fainted,  but  partially  .recovered,  and  rode  slowly 
and  reluctantly  to  the  rear,  after  he  had  sent  word  to 
General-  Suinner  that  he  was  wounded. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  161 


CHAPTER    XV. 


AFTER   THE   BATTLE. 


/^p/ENERAL  SUMNER  was  close  at  hand  with  his 
/  I  M(k  corps.  H^  saw  the  wounded  commander,  spoke 
^^£^  to  him,  and  passed  on  to  complete  the  work 
which  had  been  so  far  accomplished,  apparently,  that  it 
only  remained  to  hold  what  had  already  been  gained. 

"  Fighting  Joe "  had  virtually  contended  with  the 
whole  rebel  army,  for  the  attack  on  the  left  and  in  the 
centre  was  delayed  for  hours  after  the  victory  on  the 
right  had  been  won.  He  had  done  his  part  in  the  day's 
work  nobly  and  successfully  ;  and  there  his  responsibility 
for  the  results  of  the  battle  terminated. 

Somers  went  to  the  rear  with  his  wounded  general 
but,  when  assured  that  the  injury,  though  very  severe, 
was  not  dangerous,  and  that  he  could  be  of  no  service  to 
him,  returned  to  the  field,  resolved  to  act  as  a  volunteer. 
There  was  heavy  fighting  in  the  woods,  where  Crawford 
and  Gordon  were  executing  the  last  order  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  first  corps.  The  rebels,  by  the  delay  in 
the  Union  attack  on  the  left  and  centre,  were  enabled  to 
14* 


162  '  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

send  forward  fresh  troops  ;  and  the  combat  deepened 
until  the  woods  blazed  with  fire. 

The  young  staff  officer  rushed  in,  and  hastily  reported 
to  General  Crawford  as  a  volunteer.  He  was  cordially 
thanked,  his  services  accepted,  and  he  was  directed  to 
use  his  own  judgment.  There  were  plenty  of  exhausted 
regiments  vainly  struggling  to  roll  back  the  tide  of  defeat 
which  was  setting  fiercely  against  them.  Hundreds  of 
gallant  officers  lay  dead  and  wounded  upon  the  ground, 
and  there  was  abundance  of  work  f»r  any  brave  leader 
who  had  the  nerve  to  do  it. 

Somers  attempted  to  rally  the  broken  ranks,  and  close 
up  the  wide  gaps  which  had  been  made  by  the  fearful 
carnage  ;  but  Crawford  was  forced  back,  and  what  had 
been  gained  on  the  front  was  lost.  At  this  crisis  Gen- 
eral Franklin  came  up  with  fresh  troops,  and  the  ground 
which  had  been  lost  was  regained,  not  to  be  again 
abandoned. 

The  excitement  was  over,  and  Somers  began  to  think 

that    he   had   a   body   as   well   as   a   spirit.       He   was 

thoroughly  exhausted  when  he  left  the  field  of  his  last 

•i     labor,   and  rode  over  to   the  point   where  he  had  left 

Major  de  Banyan. 

"What's  the  matter,  my  dear  boy?''  demanded  the 
major,  as  he  rode  up  to  the  begrimed  soldier.  "  Are 
you  wounded  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Somers,  languidly ;  but  he  hardly 
knew   what    did    ail    him. 


I 

THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  163 

*'  You  are  as  pale  as  death.  Are  you  sure  you  are 
not  Avounded?"  asked  the  major,  tenderly  and  anxiously. 

"  I  don't  think  I  am." 

"  Dismount,  and  let  me  overhaul  you.  I'm  sure  you 
are  in  a  bad  condition,"  continued  the  veteran,  as  he 
took  the  hand  of  the  staff  officer. 

"  I  don't  feel  very  "well,"  added  Somers. 

Things  began  to  look  very  shaky  before  him  ;  he  felt 
a  deadly  nausea ;  and  before  he  could  get  off  his  horse, 
he  sank  fainting  into  the  arms  of  his  friend.  The  major 
took  him  from  \ns  saddle  and  laid  him  on  the  ground. 
He  was  alarmed,  and  tore  open  his  coat  to  examine  the 
vital  parts  of  his  body ;  but  there  was  no  wound,  or 
even  a  spot  of  blood  to  indicate  one.  He  procured  a 
canteen  of  water,  sprinkled  his  face,  and  rubbed  his 
temples  with  his  hands. 

Captain  Somers  had  only  fainted  from  exhaustion  con- 
sequent upon  the  severe  trials  of  the  preceding  night, 
and  the  excitement  and  fatigue  he  had  undergone  during 
the  battle.  The  skilful  attentions  of  De  Banyan  soon 
restored  him  to  consciousness  ;  but  he  was  as  weak  and 
feeble  as  an  infant.  He  had  eaten  only  one  of  the  bis- 
cuits he  had  taken  in  the  morning,  and  had  performed 
his  trying  duties  on  an  empty  stomach.  His  health, 
already  shattered,  was  not  equal  to  the  fatigues  he  had 
been  called  upon  to  endure. 

"  There  is  nothing  further  for  you  or  me  to  do  here. 


164  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"We  have  won  the  field,  and  if  the  rest  of  the  line  does 
its  work  we  shall  have  the  day,"  said  De  Banyan. 
"  Now  we  will  go  and  have  you  taken  care  of." 

"  I  am  willing,  for  I  can't  stand  this  any  longer," 
replied  Somers,  feebly. 

The  major  helped  him  on  his  horse  again,  and  Avalked 
by  his  side,  as  they  slowly  made  their  way  to  the  rear. 
Every  house  in  the  vicinity  of  the  battle-field  was  filled 
with  wounded  soldiers,  and  there  was  no  spot  where 
De  Banyan  could  find  a  resting-place  for  his  patient ; 
but  he  obtained  some  refreshment  for  him,  which  in  a 
measure  restored  his  strength. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  are  going  to  be  sick,  Somers,"  said 
the  major,  anxiously,  as  he  gazed  upon  the  pale  face  of 
his  friend. 

"  I  feel  so  myself." 

"  I  am  bound  to  see  you  in  a  comfortable  place.  Do 
you  know  of  one  ?  " 

"  The  farther  we  go  from  this  vicinity,  the  more  likely 
we  shall  be  to  find  one.  I  must  report  myself  at  head- 
quarters first." 

"  Right ;  and  you  will  find  your  servant  there." 

They  went  to  the  place  where  the  headquarters  had 
been  located,  but  the  wounded  general  had  been  con- 
veyed to  Centreville.  Somers,  however,  reported  him- 
self to  the  chief  of  stafi",  and  found  Alick. 

"  Major  de  Banyan,  as  sure  as  you  was  born ! "  ex- 
claimed the  servant. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  165 

"  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Alick,"  returned  the  major. 
"  Your  master  is  sick,  and  we  must  look  out  for  him." 

"  Yes,  sar,"  replied  the  faithful  fellow,  who  proceeded 
at  once  to  saddle  the  extra  horse. 

As  yet  nothing  had  been  or  could  be  learned  of  the 
result  of  the  battle  ;  and  the  little  party  moved  off  in 
search  of  accommodations  for  the  sick  officer.  De  Ban- 
yan declared  that  he  must  get  away  from  the  terrible 
scenes  of  death  and  mutilation  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  battle-field.  He  was  physician  enough  to  understand 
that  the  nerves  of  his  patient  were  much  shattered,  and 
that  he  needed  absolute  quiet. 

"  I  know  a  house  which  I  think  must  be  deserted," 
said  Somers  ;  "  but  it  is  eight  or  ten  miles  off." 
'  "  So  much  the  better,  if  you  can  manage  to  get  there," 
replied  De  Banyan,  who  was  mounted  on  Somers's  spare 
horse,  while  Alick  walked  in  the  rear. 

"  I  should  not  be  very  Avelcome  there." 
'  "  Xo  matter  for  that.  I  will  take  possession  of  the 
place  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  of  America. 
After  the  battle  of  Magenta  —  there  was  a  quiet  time,  I 
suppose,"  laughed  the  major.  "  Where  is  the  place  you 
speak  of  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  Ilasbrouk  mansion."  And  as  they  rode 
slowly  along,  Somers  told  his  companion  of  the  exciting 
events  which  had  occurred  there,  and  of  those  which 
had  followed  it  since  his  arrival  in  Maryland. 


166  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

In  return  De  Banyan  related  the  incidents  which  had 
happened  in  the  — th  Massachusetts,  of  which  Soraers 
w^s  still  an  officer ;  of  its  march  from  the  Peninsula, 
and  its  terrible  baptism  of  blood  at  Groveton,  where 
Captain  Benson  had  fallen  mortally  wounded  ;  and  other 
red  fields  in  which  the  regiments  had  been  reduced  to  a 
mere  skeleton.  There  were  a  thousand  things  for  eOjCh 
to  tell,  and  Somers  almost  forgot  his  weakness  in  the 
interest  he  felt  in  the  history  of  his  company  and  his 
regiment. 

"  But,  Somers,  how  is  that  pretty  young  lady  who 
used  to  knit  stockings?"    asked  the  major. 

"  She  is  well ;  I  saAv  h#r  the  day  I  left  Boston.  I 
have  that  same  pair  of  socks  on  my  feet  now.  I  put 
them  on  yesterday,  when  we  went  forward." 

"Well,  but  how  do  you  get  on?" 

"Get  on?" 

"  Bah  !     You  know  what  I  mean." 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't,"  replied  Somers,  faintly,  though  a* 
soft  blush  colored  his  pale  cheek. 

"  You  are  courting,  of  course." 

"  That's  nonsense." 

"  I  know  it's  nonsense ;  but  young  fellows  like  you 
are  given  to  such  folly." 

"  I'm  not." 

"  Pooh !  " 

"  She's  my  friend,  and  I  am  hers." 


THE  FonruxES  of  a  staff  officer.         167 

"  Of  course  you  are/' 

"  Iler  fatlier  is  a  rich  merchaut,  and  I  am  nothing  but 
a  poor  boy.  I  have  no  idea  of*  any  such  thing  as  you 
speak  of." 

"Haven't  you,  indeed?  Let  me  tell  you,  Somers,  if 
she  was  the  daughter  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  she  isn't  any  too  good  for  you  ;  and  if  she's  offish 
on  that  score,  I  should  like  the  privilege  of  telling  her 
so,"  added  the  major,  with  no  little  spirit. 

"  That's  nonsense,  major." 

"  If  Miss —     What's  her  name,  Somers?" 

"  Lilian  Ashford." 

"  That's  an  amazing  pretty  name,  Somers.  If  she's 
too  good  to  marry  a  brigadier  general,  and  such  a  briga- 
dier general  as  —  " 

"  I'm  not  a  brigadier." 

"  But  you  will  be  before  the  war  is  over." 

"  I  shall  not ;  you  are  absurd,  major." 

"  Perhaps  I  am." 

*'  I  don't  feel  now  as  though  I  should  be  anything 
much  longer." 

*'  Don't  give  it  up,  my  boy ;  'you  will  be  as  good 
as  new  in  a  week  or  two." 

"  I  promised  to  write  to  Lilian." 

"  Good  !     Do  it,  then." 

"  I  have  no  hopes  in  that  quarter.  We  are  only 
friends.  I  like  her  very  well,  but  we  don't  talk  of  any- 
thing but  those  socks." 


168  FlOHTiyO    JOE,    OR 

*'  I  say,  Somers,  when  you  are  a  brigadier,  and  have 
made  your  fortune,  you  wilL  want  a  coat  of  arms.  Let 
me  suggest  one." 

"  A  coat  of  arms  !  "  laughed  Somers. 

"  Certainly  ;  you  will  want  one.  All  great  men  have 
one."  ' 

*'  And  you  would  put  a  pair  of  socks  on  it?" 

"  Certainly  ;  that's  the  idea.  But  whete  are  we  going, 
Somers  ?  " 

"  To  the  Hasbrouk  mansion ;  and  w^e  are  nearly 
there,"  replied  the  sick  man. 

Somers  had  chosen  this  place  on  account  of  its  retired 
situation,  and  because  he  could  think  of  no  other  suitable 
house  to  be  sick  in.  In  spite  of  his  cheerful  nature,  he 
had  some  dismal  forebodings  in  regard  to  the  future. 
Nothing  but  the  inspiration  of  his  lively  companion's 
presence  kept  him  from  sinking  under  the  pain  and 
w^eakness  which  assailed  him.  On  the  road,  by  the 
prudent  counsels  of  his  friend,  he  had  stopped  several 
times  to  rest  and  refresh  himself.  He  had  never  felt  so 
weak  and  shattered  before,  and  he  feared  it  would  be 
many  a  long  day  before  he  was  able  again  to  take  his 
place  on  the  staff  of  the  general,  or  in  the  line  of  his 
regiment. 

In  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  while  the  guns  were 
still  thundering  at  Antietam,  the  little  party  reached 
the  Hasbrouk   mansion.      Major  de  Banyan  took  upon 


THE    FOItTUSKS    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  1C9 

himself  the  whole  charge  of  gaining  admission  ;  and, 
with  his  usual  bold  front,  he  entered  without  knockino^. 
The  family,  which  had  left  the  house  while  hostilities 
were  in  progress  around  it,  had  now  returned.  Alick 
took  the  horses,  and  Somers  followed  the  major  into  the 
mansion.  To  the  surprise  of  both  they  were  immedi- 
ately confronted  by  Maud,  who  had  moved  her  patients 
to  her  own  home,  when  the  battle  commenced,  early  in 
the  morning. 

De  Banyan  politely  stated  his  business,  at  the  same 
time  acting  as  though  his  stay  was  a  settled  thing, 
whether  the  family  were  willing  or  not. 

*'  We  cannot  accommodate  you,  sir,"  replied  Maud,  as 
haughtily  as  though  she  had  been  the  queen  of  "  my 
'Maryland." 

"  Sorry  for  it,  miss  ;  but  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take 
possession." 

"  We  have  three  wounded  officers  here  now,"  add- 
ed she. 

"  They  are  rebels." 

"  They  are  Confederate  officers,  sir,  or  they  would  not 
be  here." 

"  There  will  be  one  here  who  is  not  a  Confederate 
officer.  My  friend.  Captain  Somers,  must  be  accom- 
modated ;  and  I  shall  be  obliged  to  turn  out  the  rebel 
officers,  unless  you  can  find  room  for  him  without  my 
doing  so." 

15 


170  FIGHTING  JOE,    OR 

"  I  "will  uot  submit  to  this  insolence  !  "  exclaimed  she, 
rushing  out  of  the  room. 

"  Good !  Now  wait  till  I  find  a  room  for  you, 
Somers." 

"  I  would  not  have  come  here  if  I  had  not  supposed 
the  house  was  deserted.     I  feel  faint  again,  major." 

"  Don't  faint  just  yet." 

De  Banyan  made  himself  entirely  at  home ;  brought 
water,  cologne,  a  smelling-bottle,  and  finally  set  up  his 
friend  for  another  brief  period.  He  then  went  up  stairs, 
selected  a  front  room,  which,  from  its  contents,  was 
evidently  the  apartment  of  Maud  herself.  He  set  Alick 
at  work  in  the  chamber  making  a  fire,  and  otherwise 
preparing  it  for  the  reception  of  the  sick  officer. 

The  major  then  conducted  his  patient  to  the  com- 
*^  fortable  quarters  he  had  secured,  and  put  him  to  bed. 
All  the  house  could  furnish  he  obtained,  with  or  without 
leave,  and  did  all  he  could  to  improve  the  condition  of 
his  sick  friend.  At  night  Somers  was  in  a  raging  fever, 
and  the  major  was  greatly  alarmed  at  his  condition. 


THE   FOR  TUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  171 


CHAPTER     XVI. 


THE    MYSTERY    EXPLAINED. 


^^'APTAIN  SGMERS  knew  very  little  of  what 
/  I  took  place  at  the  Ilasbrouk  mansion  within 
\^Jy  the  next  three  weeks,  being  delirious  during 
the  greater  portion  of  this  time.  Major  de  Banyan 
conquered  a  peace  with  the  family  within  twenty-four 
hours,  and  obtained  all  that  he  required  in  the  service  of 
the  sick  man  without  fighting  for  it.  An  old  but  skilful 
physician  was  procured,  who  pronounced  the  disease  a 
severe  case  of  typhoid  fever,  which  presented  many 
alarming  sympk)ms. 

The  major  was  a  tender  and  a  skilful  nurse ;  but  he 
felt  that  another  presence  than  his  own  was  necessary  in 
the  sick  room.  The  sufferer  needed  the  soothing  care 
of  woman,  and  De  Banyan  sent  a  letter  to  Piuchbrook, 
containing  a  full  statement  of  the  alarming  condition  of 
the  captain ;  and  at  the  end  of  a  week  his  mother 
came,  attended  by  his  father. 

The  Ilasbrouk  family,  though  cold  and  unsympathizing 
towards  their  unwelcome  guests,  afforded  Mrs.  Somers 


172  FIGHTIXO    JOE,    OR 

every  convenience  for  the  discharge  of  her  motherly 
duty.  De  Banyan,  when  compelled  by  the  expiration  of 
his  furlough  to  return  to  his  regiment,  distinctly  informed 
Maud  and  her  father,  if  any  disrespect  was  shown  to 
Mrs.  Somers  or  her  husband,  or  any  hinderance  thrown 
in  their  way,  he  would  cause  them  all  to  be  turned  out 
of  the  house,  and  do  his  best  to  have  the  property  imme- 
diately confiscated.  The  threat  had  the  desired  effect,  and 
though  Mrs.  Somers  could  not  help  feeling  that  she  was 
an  intruder  on  the  premises,  her  discomfort  was  not  in- 
creased by  any  misconduct  on  the  part  of  the  host  or  his 
family. 

For  days  Somers's  life  seemed  to  hang  only  by  a 
thread.  His  devoted  mother  trembled  over  him  during 
the 'long  and  weary  nights.  She  and  her  husband,  as- 
sisted by  the  faithful  Alick,  took  the  whole  care  of  the 
sufferer,  rarely  seeing  any  member  of  the  family.  A 
separate  table  was  set  for  them,  and  thair  presence  was 
avoided  as  though  they  carried  the  pestilence  in  their 
garments.  They  were  the  "  mud-sills "  of  the  North, 
and  there  could  be  no   communication  between  them. 

At  the  end  of  three  weeks,  the  danger  had  passed 
away^  and  the  patient  began  to  improve.  In  a  short 
time,  under  the  skilful  care  of  the  old  doctor,  he  was 
able  to  go  down  stairs  ;  and  his  father  at  once  made 
arrangements  for  removing  him  to  his  home  in  Pinch- 
brook,  anxious  to  escape  as  soon  as  possible  from  the 


THE    FORTUNES    OP  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  173 

cold  hospitality  of  the  Hasbrouks.  On  the  day  before 
the  intended  departure,  a  servant  announced  that  Major 
Rijrsleston  wished   to    see   him,   and   would   meet   him 

CO  ' 

in  the  parlor.  Attended  by  his  mother,  he  went  down 
stairs. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Captain  Somers,  but  sorry  to 
find  you  so  ill,"  said  the  major,  when  Mrs.  Somers  had 
been  duly  introduced. 

"  Thank  you,  major  ;  I  have  had  rather  a  rough  time 
of  it." 

"  You  were  fortunate  in  having  the  attentions  of  your 
good  mother." 

''  I  should  have  died  without  her,"  added  the  captain, 
glancing  affectionately  at  his  mother. 

*'  AVell,  we  don't  know  about  those  things,  Thomas," 
said  Mrs.  Somers,  meekly. 

*'  I  learned  that  you  were  here  three  weeks  ago,  and  I 
intended  to  call  upon  you  before  this  time,"  continued  the 
major.  "  You  know  there  was  a  little  affair  between  us 
that  needed  clearing  up." 

*'  It  would  done  no  good  to  come  much  afore  now ;  the 
poor  boy  wan't  fit  to  be  seen.  He's  had  an  awful  hard 
time  on't,  and  nothing  but  almighty  Power  has  kept  him 
from  the  grave,"  interposed  Mrs.  Somers,  wiping  away 
the  tear  that  started  in  her  eye  when  she  thought  of  the 
days  in  which  her  son  was  trembling  between  life  and 
death.  "  If  I  can  only  once  get  him  home,  he  shan't 
15* 


174  FIGHTINO   JOE,    OR 

leave  me  again.  He  went  off  afore  when  he  was  no 
more  fit  to  go  than  a  baby." 

"  The  captain  is  a  very  useful  person  in  the  army." 

"  "Well,  I  suppose  he  is ;  but  there's  no  sense  nor 
reason  in  his  going  off  when  he  ain't  fit  to  go.  We  shall 
get  away  from  here  to-morrow." 

"  My  mother  don't  like  this  place  very  well,"  said 
Somers,  with  a  smile.  "  The  people  here  are  not  re- 
markably fond  of  me." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  forgot  that  you  did  not  know  anything  about  it.  I 
will  tell  you  now.  Major  Riggleston,  and  I'm  sure  you 
will  not  blame  me  for  the  rude  words  I  spoke  to  you, 
when  you  understand  the   matter."  , 

"You  did  the  fair  thing  when  you  discovered  your 
mistake  ;  but  you  spoke  to  your  general  about  the  affair, 
and  he  does  not  regard  me  with  favor.  I  came  over 
here  partly  for  the  purpose  of  affording  you  an  oppor- 
tunity to  clear  me  from  the  imputation  that  rests  upon 
my  honor.  An  explanation  from  you  will  set  the  matter 
right." 

"  I  can't  explain  it  myself,"  added  Somers.  "  I  only 
know  that  you  are  not  the  man  who  entrapped  me,  and 
whom  I  shot  in  the  head." 

Somers  then  related  the  history  of  the  affair  in  the 
house  where  they  were  then  assembled,  and  that  which 
occurred  in  the  rebel  lines.    Major  Riggleston  listened  to 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  175 

the  narrative  with  deep  interest,  as  did  Mrs.  Somers, 
whose  husband  had  gone  with  Alick  to  examine  the 
battle-field  of  Autietam  and  South  Mountain. 

**  Sakes  alive  !  who  ever  heard  of  such  things  !  "  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Somers,  when  her  son  had  finished  his 
exciting  story.  "  It's  a  wonder  that  you  wan't  killed, 
Thomas." 

"  I  understand  it  all  now,  Captain  Somers,"  said  the 
major,  rather  disconcerted.  "  Though  I  am  not  at  all  to 
blame  in  the  premises,  the  affair  more  nearly  concerns 
me  than  you  may  suppose." 

*' I  exonerate  you  entirely.  Major  Riggleston,"  con- 
tinued Somers. 

"  There,  Thomas,  you  musn't  talk  any  more  now," 
interposed  the  matron. 

"  I  won't  say  anything  more,  but  I  must  settle  this 
affair,  mother." 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  Maud  Hasbrouk 
was  on  the  point  of  entering ;  but  when  she  saw  that  the 
parlor  was  already  occupied,  she  turned  to  retire. 

"  These  people  in  here !  "  said  she,  contemptuously, 
but  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  all  in  the  room. 

"  No  matter,  Maud ;  go  in  if  Ernest  is  there,"  said 
another  person,  behind  her. 

*'  He  is  there ;  he  is  a  friend  of  Captain  Somers,'* 
sneered  she,  as  she  walked  into  the  apartment  as  though 
she  had  been  a  superior  being. 


176  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"How  is  your  health,  Captain  Somers?"  asked  the 
person  who  followed  Maud. 

He  was  an  officer,  and  his  head  was  tied  up  with  a 
bandage. 

"  Major  Riggleston ! "  exclaimed  Somers,  starting 
from  his  chair. 

"  Goodness !  "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Somers,  fearful  that 
the  excitement  her  son  exhibited  would  throw  him  into 
another  fever.     "  What  ails  the  boy  ?  " 

"  You  are  certainly  the  person  at  whom  I  fired,"  added 
Somers,  as  he  gazed  at  the  form  and  features  of  the  new 
comer. 

"  No  doubt  of  that.  Captain  Somers,"  replied  the 
major.     "And  a  very  nice  time  I've  had  of  it  too." 

"  I  hope  some  one  will  serve  you  in  the  same  way," 
said  Maud,  spitefully. 

"  For  massy  sake  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Somers,  fearful 
in  the  gathering  events  that  some  one  would  serve  her 
darling  boy  in  the  same  way.  "What  has  Thomas 
done?" 

"He  is  a  —  " 

"  Not  another  word,  Maud,"  said  the  wounded  major, 
sternly.  "  He  did  his  duty,  and  I  am  not  the  one  to- 
'blame  him  for  it." 

"  I  hope  you  will  do  yours,  major,  if  the  circum- 
stances ever  place  you  in  the  same  situation." 

"  I  should ;  and  Captain  Somers  would  not  blame  me 
for  it." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  177 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Somers. 

"  He  saved  your  life  and  mine,  Maud ;  and  we  will 
not  quarrel  now." 

The  proud  beauty  was  silent  and  sullen,  while  Somers 
gazed  in  wonder  from  one  Major  Riggleston  to  the  other 
Major  Riggleston. 

*'  You  understand  it  now,  Captain  Somers?  "  said  the 
loyal  major. 

"  I  do  ;  it  is  all  very  plain  now.  You  must  acknowl- 
edge that  I  made  a  very  natural  mistake." 

*'  It  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  been  taken  for  my 
brother.  He  is  two  years  older  than  I  am  ;  but  we  look 
very  much  alike." 

When  they  were  together,  several  points  of  difference 
could  be  observed  ;  and  the  resemblance  was  not  now  so 
great  as  it  had  been  before  the  battle  of  Antietam,  for 
the  rebel  major  had  grown  thinner  and  paler  under  the 
suffering  induced  by  his  wound.  At  the  time  Somers 
had  met  them,  the  similarity  in  form  and  features,  in 
voice  and  manner,  was  so  great,  that  a  person  of  ordinary 
perception,  meeting  them  at  different  times,  could  not 
have  told  one  from  the  other.  The  rebel  major  had 
changed  so  much  during  his  illness  that  the  difference 
was  now  more  perceptible. 

"  It  never  occurred  to  me  that  you  had  seen  my 
brother,"  said  Major  Fred,  who  was  the  loyal  brother. 
"  If  it  had,  I  should  have  understood  the  whole  matter." 


178  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  I  understood  it  perfectly,"  added  Major  Ernest,  who 
was  the  rebel  brother.  "  I  confess,  too,  that  I  took 
advantage  of  the  circumstance." 

"But  where  did  you  get  my  safe-cbnduct ? "  asked 
Fred. 

"  I  picked  it  up  the  night  we  were  at  home,"  replied 
Ernest,  rather  sheepishly. 

"  That  was  hardly  fair." 

"  All  fair  in  war,  Fred." 

"  Well,  then,  it  is  one  of  the  disadvantages  of  having 
a  brother  on  the  wrong  side,  Ernest." 

"  That  name,  Ernest,  reminds  me  that  I  heard  it  at 
your  father's  house,  in  Frederick,"  added  Somers. 

"  Captain  Somers,"  said  the  loyal  major,  very  seriously, 
"  you  may  think  I  am  not  as  patriotic  as  I  ought  to  be. 
You  know  that  my  brother  was  at  my  father's  house,  and 
that  I  saw  him  there.  You  may  think  I  ought  to  have 
handed  him  over  as  a  prisoner  of  war." 

"  Thomas  don't  think  any  such  thing,"  said  Mrs. 
Somers. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say   about  that ;  it  is  a  family 
affair,"  added  Captain  Somers.     "  I  need  only  say  that  I 
regard  you.  Major  Fred  Riggleston,  as  a  loyal  man  ;  and 
I  shall  write  the  general  a  letter  containing  a  full  expla- . 
nation  of  my  blunder." 

"  Thank  you,  captain,"  replied  Fred.  "  That  will  set 
me  right." 


rilE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  179 

"  By  the  way,  Captain  Somers,"  said  the  rebel  major, 
''  there  is  a  matter  between  us  also." 

"  AVhat  I  agreed  in  honor  and  confidence  to  do,  I  have 
done,  and  shall  continue  to  do,"  replied  Somers,  alluding 
to  the  matter  of  the  rebel  countersign,  imparted  to  him 
by  the  wounded  major. 

*^  There,  Thomas,  you  musn't  say  another  word,"  in- 
terposed Mrs.  Somers,  once  more. 

Maud  left  the  room,  disgusted  with  the  proceedings, 
and  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  her  lover,  who  per- 
.sistently  refused  to  revile  the  Yankees  present.  When 
she  had  gone.  Major  Ernest  walked  up  to  Somers,  and 
in  a  low  tone,  remarked  that  he  should  never  again  serve 
in  the  rebel  army.  The  captain  commended  his  reso- 
lution, and  hoped  he  would  be  able  to  do  more  and 
better  than  this,  and  be  found  in  the  ranks  of  his 
country's  defenders  in  the  hour  of  peril.  He  shook  his 
head,   and  made  no  reply. 

Somers  was  conducted  to  his  chamber  by  his  mother, 
who  insisted  that  he  should  lie  down  ;  for  she  greatly 
feared  the  effects  of  the  excitement  to  which  he  had  been 
subjected.  Late  in  the  evening,  Captain  Somers,  senior, 
returned  from  the  battle-fields,  and  his  wife  regaled  him 
for  an  hour  with  the  adventures  of  their  son,  concerning 
which.  Captain  Somers,  junior,  had  up  to  this  day  pre- 
served a  discreet  silence. 

On    the   following   day,    Somers,   with   his    parents, 


180  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

started  for  home.  The  feeble  condition  of  the  invalid 
compelled  them  to  travel  very  slowly,  and  remain  two  or 
three  days  at  each  of  the  principal  cities  through  which 
they  passed  on  the  journey.  Consequently  it  was  nearly 
a  fortnight  before  they  reached  Pinchbrook,  w^here  the 
hero  "was  duly  welcomed  ;  and  where,  in  a  few  days  after 
his  arrival,  he  had  the  happiness  to  receive  a  visit  from 
Lilian  Ashford. 

She  was  as  gentle  and  beautiful  as  ever,  and  smiled 
so  sweetly  upon  him,  and  pitied  him  so  tenderly,  that 
he  almost  found  it  in  his  heart  to  rejoice  at  the  suffering 
which  had  procured  him  such  a  blissful  meeting.  Lilian 
told  him  how  disappointed  her  grandmother  was  at  not 
seeing  him,  as  he  had  promised,  and  that  she  still  lived 
in  the  hope  of  meeting  him.  Of  course  Somers  proposed 
to  keep  the  broken  engagenjent  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to 
visit  the  city. 

Lilian  was  accompanied  by  her  father,  who  manifested 
a  hearty  interest  in  the  young  aid-de-camp,  and  joined 
warmly  with  his  daughter  in  the  invitation  to  visit  his 
house.  This  was  hopeful,  and  afforded  Somers  many 
pleasant  reflections,  the  nature  of  which  we  need  hardly 
explain  to  our  cunning  readers.  The  visitors  departed, 
and  the  invalid's  suffering  body  contained  a  hopeful 
spirit. 


THE  FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  181 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


DOWN   IN   TENNESSEE. 


(\,V'T^  was  four  mouths  before  Captain  Somers  was 
^i  able  to  visit  Boston,  so  severely  had  his  constitu- 
f^J  tion  been  shattered  by  the  fatigues  of  the  service, 
^^ — ^  and  by  the  strain  of  exciting  events  upon  his 
nervous  system.  Lilian  Ashford  and  her  father  visited 
Pinchbrook  several  times  during  this  period,  and  an 
excellent  understanding  was  established  between  the  cap- 
tain and  the  young  lady.  The  visit  was  returned  in  the 
spring,  when  Somers  was  able  to  endure  the  fatigue ; 
and  as  his  health  gradually  improved,  he  repeated  his 
calls  till  they  occurred  as  often  as  once  a  week. 

Grandmother  Ashford  had  abundant  opportunity  now 
to  tell  all  about  the  "  last  war,"  and  Somers  listened 
with  the  attention  which  so  interesting  a  narrative  de- 
served. Perhaps  it  was  fortunate  for  the  venerable  lady 
that  her  eyesight  was  impaired,  or  she  might  have  been 
wounded  to  observe  that  her  patient  auditor  looked  more 
at  Lilian  than  at  herself.  On  one  of  these  occasions  the 
old  lady  was  so  imprudent  as  to  leave  the  young  couple 
16 


182  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

in  the  parlor,  and  something  passed  between  them  whicii 
seemed  to  make  Somers  very  much  pleased  with  himself 
and  with  Lilian,  and  to  make  Lilian  equally  Avell  pleased 
with  herself  and  with  Somers.  What  this  was,  the  ex- 
perienced reader  may  possibly  be  able  to  divine ;  but  as 
our  story  relates  mainly  to  the  military  history  of  our 
hero,  it  cannot  properly  be  introduced. 

Captain  Somers  was  certainly  improving  in  health, 
but  so  slowly  that  there  was  no  present  prospect  of  his 
being  able  to  join  his  regiment,  or  report  on  the  staff  of 
his  beloved  general,  now  commanding  the  grand  army  of 
the  Potomac.  His  physician  positively  refused  to  permit 
him  even  to  visit  the  scene  of  active  operations ;  and 
after  communicating  with  "  Fighting  Joe"  by  letter,  he 
decided  to  resign  his  position  in  the  — th  Massachusetts, 
for  his  continued  absence  not  only  deprived  the  regiment 
of  his  services,  but  prevented  some  deserving  officer, 
who  performed  his  duties,  from  receiving  the  pay  and 
promotion  to  which  he  was  justly  entitled.  But  he  did 
not  take  this  decisive  step  till  he  was  assured  by  the 
general  that  he  could  have  an  appointment  on  the  staff 
as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the 
position. 

While  Somers  was  absent  from  the  army,  the  great 
battle  of  Fredericksburg  had  been  fought ;  and  the  brave, 
noble,  and  Christian  Burnside,  perplexed  by  the  treach- 
ery of  seeming  friends,  by  the  over-zealous  movements 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  183 

of  real  ones,  and  by  the  machiuations  of  envious  and 
jealous  officers,  who  should  have  been  foremost  to  sup- 
port him,  was  badly  defeated.  The  rauk  and  file  be- 
haved nobly,  fought  well,  and  the  day  ought  to  have 
been  won  ;  but  the  parts  of  the  grand  army  were  dis- 
jointed ;  they  did  not  act  in  concert ;  and  portions  of 
the  force  were  left  to  be  mercilessly  slaughtered.  The 
devoted  and  unselfish  Burnside  shouldered  the  responsi- 
bility, and  stepped  down  frdkn  the  exalted  military  pinna- 
cle to  which  he  had  been  raised  without  ambition,  and 
against  his  own  desires. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Major  General  Hooker,  the 
"  bravest  of  the  brave,"  and  one  of  the  ablest  soldiers 
which  the  war  had  developed.  He  had  fought  and  lost 
the  great  battle  of  Chancellorsville ;  but  he,  too,  was  a 
victim  of  jealousy  and  indecision  on  the  part  of  men 
whose  purposes  were  their  own,  instead  of  their  suffering 
country's. 

The  culminating  battle  of  the  war  was  fought  at  Get- 
tysburg by  his  successor.  It  was  a  decisive  victory  ;  for 
the  defiant  foe  was  penetrating  the  heart  of  the  North, 
and  there  could  be  no  trifling  with  the  terrible  fact  that 
stared  the  nation  full  in  the  face.  The  generals  and  the 
army  fought  nobly,  and  the  exulting  rebels  were  hurled 
back,  shattered  and  discomfited,  to  the  soil  of  Virginia. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  immediately  followed 
by  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson ;  and 


184  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

operations  in  the  West  and  South-west  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  country  during  the  remainder  of  the 
year,  while  the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  comparatively 
quiet  in  Virginia.  The  battle  of  Chickamauga  Creek 
was  fought,  and  the  Union  army  defeated,  and  only 
saved  from  disaster  by  the  skill  and  firmness  of  General 
Thomas. 

The  Confederate  authorities,  taking  advantage  of  the 
lull  in  the  storm  of  battle*  in  the  East,  sent  General 
Longstreet  and  his  corps  to  the  West,  which  being  under- 
stood in  Washington,  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  corps  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  were  despatched,  under  com- 
mand of  General  Hooker,  to  counteract  this  addition  to 
the  force  of  the  rebels. 

Captain  Somers  had  impatiently  watched  the  progress 
of  events  in  the  East  and  in  the  West,  and  mourned  over 
the  necessity  which  compelled  him  to  remain  inactive. 
He  had  attended  to  his  health,  and  felt  that  he  was 
completely  restored,  even  before  his  stubborn  physician 
would  acknowledge  the  fact.  But  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember, when  he  had  been  nearly  a  year  off  duty,  the 
doctor  gave  him  a  "  clean  bill  of  health."  He  had  em- 
ployed much  of  his  time,  since  his  strength  would  per- 
mit, in  athletic  exercises  —  in  rowing,  in  gymnastics,  and 
in  hard  labor  in  the  garden.  He  was  heavier  and 
stronger  than  he  had  ever  been  before,  and  he  was 
ashamed   to   remain   any  longer   in   idleness   when   the 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  185 

country  needed  his  arm.  lie  wTote  to  the  general  again, 
just  as  the  stalwart  hero  was  on  the  point  of  starting  for 
the  West. 

Three  days  after,  Somers  received  a  reply,  informing 
him  that  in  a  short  time  he  would  receive  a  commission 
as  a  captain  in  the  regular  army,  and  an  appointment  on 
his  staff  as  senior  aid-de-camp.  To  this  agreeable  in- 
telligence was  added  the  hardly  less  agreeable  fact  that 
Major  de  Banyan  and  Captain  Barkwood  w^ould  also  be 
members  of  his  military  family. 

"  Glory,  hallelujah  !  "  shouted  Somers,  as  he  rushed 
into  the  humble  cottage  at  Pinchbrook. 

*'  What  on  airth  is  the  matter  now,  Thomas?"  asked 
his  mother,  dropping  the  wet  dish-cloth  on  the  floor  in 
her  astonishment. 

"  Read  that,  mother  !  "  shouted  the  captain. 

"  I  hain't  got  my  glasses,  Thomas.     What  is  it? " 

"  A  captain  in  the  regular  army  !  A  soldier  for  life. 
What  will  Lilian  say  to  that  ?  " 

"  Dear  me  !  Well,  that  is  news,"  added  Mrs.  Som- 
ers, who,  however,  was  not  very  clear  in  regard  to  the 
distinction  between  a  regular  and  a  volunteer  officer. 
"  I  suppose  the  gal  will  think  you  are  a  pretty  smart 
boy.  I  hope  it  won't  make  you  proud  and  vain, 
Thomas." 

''  I'm  proud,  mother ;  but  I  guess  it  won't  make  me 
vain.  I  tell  you  Avhat,  it's  no  small  thing  to  be  a 
16* 


186  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

captain  in  the  regular  army.  I  think  Lilian  won't  like 
me  any  less  for  this." 

"  Cat's  foot !  She  won't  like  you  any  more.  If  she 
does,  she  ain't  the  gal  I  take  her  to  be.  Do  you  sup- 
pose she  will  want  you  oiFall  the  time,  when  you  —  " 

"  Come,  mother,  you  are  getting  ahead  of  my  time," 
said  the  young  captain,  with  a  blush.  "  Well,  I  wish  the 
papers  would  come,  for  I  am  in  a  hurry  to  be  at  work 
again." 

'^  They'll  come  soon  enough,"  added  the  mother, 
sadly,  as  she  thought  of  another  long  separation,  and  the 
dismal  hours  that  would  be  spent  in  waiting  for  intelli- 
gence of  him  after  a  battle  had  been  fought. 

The  next  day  came  a  long  letter  from  De  Banyan,  in 
which  he  congratulated  himself  and  his  friend  on  the 
prospect  before  them,  and  proposed  to  meet  him  at 
Louisville  on  the  journey  to  the  new  field  of  operations. 
The  commission  and  the  appointment  soon  followed,  and 
Somers  again  donned  his  staff  uniform.  The  hardest 
thing  before  him  was  to  leave  home,  which  had  become 
doubly  endeared  to  him  by  his  long  stay.  He  had  seen 
his  t\vin  brother,  now  in  the  navy,  during  a  brief  visit 
the  latter  made  to  Pinchbrook,  when  sent  to  Boston  as 
prize-master  of  a  brig  he  had  captured.  This  was  the 
only  time  they  had  met  since  the  departure  of  Thomas, 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war. 

Mrs.  Somers  was  a  woman  of  tender  feelings,  and  she 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  187 

wept  bitterly  as  she  agaiu  bade  her  sou  adieu,  aud  gave 
him  iuto  the  keepiug  of  the  almighty  Father,  who  had 
])rotected  aud  preserved  him  through  so  mauy  perils, 
lu  Bostou,  as  may  well  be  supposed,  he  hasteued  to  the 
house  of  Mr.  Ashford,  aud  saw  Lilian,  who  had  already 
beeu  informed  of  his  intended  departure.  She  now  had 
a  deeper  interest  in  him  than  ever  before ;  and  she  was 
sad,  but  hopeful.  Another  earnest  prayer  to  God  for  his 
safety  was  to  be  added  daily  and  nightly  to  those  which 
went  up  from  the  humble  home  in  Pinchbrook. 

"  Do  you  see  this  bundle,  Lilian?  "  said  Somers,  as  he 
opened  the  parcel  in  his  hand. 

^' What  is  it?" 

"Don't  you  see?" 

"  Socks ! " 

"  They  are  the  banner  under,  or,  rather,  over,  which  I 
fight,"  said  he,  handing  her  the  articles. 

"  They  are  hardly  worn  at  all,"  replied  she,  with  a  sad 
smile. 

"  But  they  have  been  on  my  feet  in  every  battle  in 
which  I  have  been  engaged.  I  never  wear  them  except 
in  a  fight,  for  I  don't  want  to  wear  them  out." 

"  I  wiU  knit  you  some  more." 

"  But  they  would  not  be  these,  if  you  did,"  laughed 
Somers,  trying  to  be  as  cheerful  as  possible.  "  These 
socks  have  helped  me  to  do  my  duty  ;  and  they  introduced 
me  to  you,  which  is  the  best  part  of  it.     When  the  war 


188  FIGHTIXO   JOE,    OR 

is  over,  I  am  going  to  put  them  in  a  glass  case,  and  keep 
them  in  my  room,  to  remind  me  of  the  scenes  of  the  past." 

"  You  are  a  funny  fellow,  Thomas,"  said  she. 

"  Perhaps  I  am  ;  but  I  mean  all  I  say." 

A  great  deal  more  was  said,  which  we  are  afraid 
•would  look  very  silly  to  some  wise  and  prudent  people, 
if  we  should  transfer  it  to  our  page  ;  but  the  M^ords 
spoken  by  both  were  very  earnest  and  sincere,  though 
perhaps  they  were  rather  sentimental,  as  might  have 
been  naturally  expected  under  such  circumstances.  He 
spoke  the  good  by,  and  left  the  house.  He  did  not  see 
the  tears  shed  by  Lilian  after  he  had  gone.  More  than 
her  words,  even,  they  told  of  her  sincerity.  Mr.  Ashford 
was  not  at  home  when  he  called,  and  Somers  paid  his 
respects  to  him  at  his  counting-room.  The  wealthy 
merchant  was  deeply  interested  in  him,  and  readily  ac- 
cented the  fact  which  the  intimacy  between  his  daughter 
and  the  young  soldier  indicated. 

Followed  by  the  prayers  and  the  hopes  of  devoted 
friends,  he  proceeded  on  his  journey  to  the  West.  Alick, 
who  had  been  at  work  in  Pinchbrook  during  the  year, 
accompanied  him  as  his  servant.  In  due  time  he  reached 
Louisville,  w^here,  in  conformity  with  the  arrangement,  he 
met  Major  de  Banyan,  and  together  they  repaired  to 
Nashville.  They  had  brought  w4th  them  their  saddles, 
and  other  military  equipments,  but  it  was  necessary  to 
procure  horses  at  this  place. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  189 

The  headquarters  of  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  corps 
were  at  Bridgeport,  on  the  Tennessee,  about  thirty  miles 
from  Chattanooga,  Avhieh  was  the  point  at  which  the 
military  operations  centred.  Though  the  country 
between  Nashville  and  the  advanced  line  of  the  Union 
army  was  in  military  possession  of  t^he  loyal  forces,  it 
was  in  a  very  disturbed  condition.  There  were  strong 
Union  men  there  ;  but  the  rebels  predominated,  and  the 
region  was  infested  with  Confederate  cavalry  and  irre- 
sponsible guerillas.  The  military  railroad,  by  which  the 
army  received  its  supplies,  was  necessarily  guarded  by 
troops  through  every  mile  of  its  course. 

Having  procured  their  horses,  Somers  and  De  Banyan 
proceeded  by  the  railroad  towards  their  destination.  The 
destruction  of  a  bridge,  about  twenty  miles  from  Bridge- 
port, suspended  the  farther  progress  of  the  train,  and 
our  officers  decided  to  accomplish  the  balance  of  the 
journey  on  horseback.  Each  of  them  had  a  servant, 
and  an  extra  horse  to  meet  the  contingencies  of  the 
service.  / 

"  We  shall  not  be  able  to  find  our  way,  I'm  afraid," 
said  Somers,  as  they  rode  along  through  a  wild  region. 

''  You  forget  that  I  am  at  home  in  this  part  of  the 
country,"  replied  the  major. 

"  Are  you?" 

"  I  was  bom  and  raised  not  twenty  miles  from  this 
spot,  in  the  town  of  "Winchester,  over  in  that  direction," 


190  FIGBTIXG   JOE,    OB 

he  added,  pointing  to  the  north-west.  "  I  know  every 
foot  of  land  about  here  ;  and  I  am  indebted  to  that  fact 
for  ray  appointment  on  the  general's  staff." 

"  Then  we  shall  not  be  likely  to  get  lost." 

"  No  ;  but  the  guerillas  are  as  thick  around  here  as 
raisins  in  a  plum  pudding.  I  suppose  I  should  have  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  be  hung  if  any  of  them  should 
catch  me." 

"  "What  did  you  come  down  here  for,  then?  " 

"It  makes  no  difference  to  me.  I  rather  enjoy  the 
excitement  of  the  danger ;  besides,  I  should  like  to 
help  restore  my  state  to  her  allegiance." 

"  It  is  almost  night,  major.  I  don't  think  it  is  prudent 
for  us.  to  beat  about  this  region  in  the  dark." 

"  It  is  safer  to  beat  about  than  it  is  to  lie  down  and 
go  to  sleep ;  but  there  is  a  house  a  couple  of  miles  from 
here,  where  a  Union  man  used  to  live.  "We  will  stop 
there  if  you  like." 

"  I  think  we  had  better  do  so,"  replied  Somers. 

"  Perhaps  we  had,  especially  as  it  looks  very  much 
like  a  storm." 

They  reached  the  house,  which  was  the  residence  of 
the  owner  of  a  large  plantation.  It  had  been  an  elegant 
establishment  before  the  war,  but  it  looked  like  waste  and 
ruin  around  it.  The  travellers  stopped  before  the  man- 
sion. De  Banyan  dismounted,  and  throwing  the  bridle- 
rein  to  his  servant,  walked  up  to  the  front  door. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  191 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE    GUERILLAS    AT    SUPPER. 

E  BANYAN  knocked  at  the  door  ;  but  as  no  one 
answered  his  summons,  he  ■vveut  in  witliout  fur- 
ther ceremony,  Somers  remaining  on  his  horse 
to  await  the  result  of  the  interview.  It  was 
now  quite  dark ;  the  wind  howled  savagely  through  the 
trees,  and  the  rain  began  to  fall  in  torrents. 

"  Bad  night,  massa,"  said  Alick,  as  he  drew  his  over- 
coat closer  around  hifn. 

"  Yes  ;  but  we  expect  to  stop  at  this  house  to-night," 
replied  the  captain. 

"  De  storm  make  you  sick  again,  massa." 
"  No,  I  think  not." 

"  Must  be  careful,  massa  cap'n.  I  reckon  dey  has  de 
fever  'n'  agur  right  smart  in  dis  yere  country." 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Somers,  carelessly ;  for  he 
was  thinking  that  his  friend  w^as  absent  a  long  time 
upon  his  mission. 

He  waited  a  quarter  of  an  hour  longer,  and  began  to 
be  impatient  at  De  Banyan's  long  absence.     He  thought 


192  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

the  major  must  be  having  a  very  pleasant  interview  with 
his  old  acquaintance,  and  had  forgotten  that  his  friend 
was  out  in  the  storm  waiting  for  him.  At  last  his 
patience  was  completely  exhausted,  and  he  had  it  in  his 
heart  to  rebuke  the  thoughtlessness  of  his  companion. 

"  Here,  Alick,  hold  my  horse,"  said  Somers,  as  he 
dismounted.  "  The  major  has  gone  to  sleep,  and  for- 
gotten that  we  are  waiting  for  him." 

"  Yes,  massa ;  but  dat  ain't  much  like  de  major,  to 
forget  you,"  replied  Alick,  taking  the  rein. 

"  No,  it  is  not ;  but  I'll  venture  to  say  he  is  having  a 
good  time  in  the  house." 

Somers  walked  up  to  the  front  door,  and  knocked  with 
his  fist.  As  in  the  former  instance,  it  brought  no  re- 
sponse ;  and  he  repeated  th^  summons  with  the  butt  of 
his  pistol,  but  with  no  better  success  than  before.  It 
was  evident  that  the  family  were  very  deaf,  or  that  they 
occupied  the  rear  of  the  house,  where  the  sound  could 
not  reach  them.  Following  the  example  of  De  Banyan, 
he  opened  the  door  and  entered.  At  the  end  of  a  long 
entry  he  saw  a  light  through  a  crack,  which  he  followed 
till  it  brought  him  to  another  door,  at  w^hich  he  knocked. 

"  "W^iat  do  you  want?"  demanded  a  large,  rough,  un- 
couth-looking man,  who  presented  himself  at  the  door. 

"  "Where  is  the  gentleman  that  came  in  here  half  an 
hour  ago  ?  "  asked  Somers,  rather  impatiently. 

"  Haven't  any  room,"  replied  the  man,  in  a  loud  tone. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  193 

"  I  asked  where  the  gentleman  was  who  came  ir^o  the 
house  half  an  hour  ago,"  repeated  the  captain. 

*'  I'm  deef." 

*'  I  should  think  you  were,"  said  the  inquirer,  in  a  low 
tone ;  after  which  he  uttered  his  question  again  at  the 
top  of  his  lungs. 

^'  I  don't  know  him,"  yelled  the  deaf  man. 

*'  He  came  into  this  house." 

*'  Four  o'clock  in  the  morning,"  screamed  the  man. 

*' Have  you  seen  any  one  come  in1;o  this  house?" 
shouted  Somers. 

"  Blind  in  one  ear,  and  deef  in  one  eye,"  returned  the 
man,  with  a  grin. 

*'  Who  lives  here?" 

"  I  do." 

*'  What's  your  name?  " 

*'  Skinley." 

"What  are  you?"  « 

"  None  o'  yer  business." 

"  Do  you  live  alone?" 

*' What's  that  ter  you?" 

"  I  want  to  see  the  man  that  came  in  here  a  while 
ago." 

"  Come  in." 

Somers  did  not  like  the  looks  of  things  at  all ;  and  if 
he  had  not  been  interested  in  De  Banyan,  he  would  have 
retired  in  disgust  from  the  house  :  as  it  was,  he  entered 
17 


194  FIGHTIXO    JOE,    OB 

the  rotm.  As  he  did  so  he  heard  the  sounds  of  coarse 
rcTehy,  which  suddenly  burst  upon  his  ear  from  an 
apartment  farther  in  the  rear  of  the  mansion. 

"  Mr.  Skinley,  I  wish  to  see  the  gentleman  who  came 
in  before  me,"  said  Somers,  putting  his  hand  on  his 
pistol. 

*'Do  yer?" 

"  I  do." 

"  Well,  yer  needn't  yell  no  more  ;  there  ain't  none  so 
deef  as  them  that  won't  hear.  You  kin  see  him,"  re- 
plied the  man,  with  a  grin,  which  seemed  to  indicate 
that  Somers  had  been  made  the  victim  of  a  practical 
joke. 

"Where  is  he?" 

"  In  yender,"  replied  Skinley,  pointing  to  the  door  of 
the  room  from  which  the  sounds  of  revelry  had  come. 

Somers  had  a  great  many  doubts  in  regard  to  the  sit- 
uation. There  was  evidently  a  considerable  body  of  men 
in  the  house. 

"  Mr.  Skinley  —  " 

"  I  ain't  Mister  Skinley.  I  told  you  what  my  name 
was.     My  name's  Skinley.'* 

"Well,  Skinley." 

"  That  sounds  more  like  it,  stranger.  Now,  what's 
your  name  ?  " 

"  Somers."  jif- 

"What  are  you?" 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  195 

"  None  of  your  business." 

"  Whar  yer  gwinc  ?  " 

"What's  that  to  you?" 

"  All  right,  stranger." 

"Now,  Skinley,  who  are  those  men  in  yonder?" 
asked  Somers,  good-natured  in  spite  of  the  circumstances 
of  doubt,  and  possibly  peril,  which  surrounded  him,  as 
he  pointed  to  the  rear  room. 

"  Friends  of  mine." 

"How  many  are  there?" 

"  Go  in  and  count  'em.  What  yer  want  to  know 
fur?" 

"  A  man  in  these  times  don't  generally  have  so  many 
friends  as  you  seem  to  have." 

"  I'm  a  good  feller,  Somers,  and  they  all  like  me," 
replied  Skinley,  laughing  heartily. 

"  You  have  one  of  my  friends  in  there.'* 

"How  do  yer  know?" 

"  You  said  so." 

"  Well,  Somers,  a  feller  don't  alius  know  who  his 
friends  is,  in  these  times." 

"  But  I  know  him ;  and,  Skinley,  would  you  be  so 
kind  as  to  call  him  out  ?  " 

"  It  can't  be  did,"  said  the  uncouth  abomination  of  a 
man,  very  positively.  * 

"Why  not?" 

"  Whar  d'yer  lam  yer  manners?    He's  havin'  a  bout 


196  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

o'  whiskey  with  the  boys ;  and  I'd  as  soon  think  o' 
techin'  a  pant'er  at  his  grub  as  a  sodger  at  his  Avhis- 
key." 

"  If  you  tell  him  Somers  is  here,  he  will  not  take 
offence." 

"  Yes,  he  will.  Them's  good  fellers.  Go  in  and  jine 
'em,"  said  Skinley,  throwing  the  door  wide  open. 

Seated  around  a  long  table,  on  which  there  was  still 
a  plentiful  supply  of  bacon  and  corn  dodgers,  and  a  great 
many  bottles,  were  about  twenty  of  the  roughest  looking 
fellows  the  staff  officer  had  ever  laid  eyes  upon.  At  the 
end  of  the  board  was  De  Banyan,  apparently  as  happy 
and  contented  as  the  rest  of  the  party.  Somers  had  no 
difficulty  in  promptly  arriving  at  the  conclusion  that  the 
men  were  guerillas.  They  had  evidently  drank  all  the 
whiskey  that  was  good  for  them. 

"  Come  in,  Somers,"  shouted  the  major,  uproariously. 
"  Come  in,  and  we  will  make  room  for  you.  My  friend 
Somers,"  he  added,  turning  to  his  wild  companions. 

"  Come  in,  Somers,"  said  half  a  dozen  of  the  guerillas. 

"  Hand  him  the  whiskey,"  put  in  one,  who  sat  at  the 
farther  end  of  the  table. 

"  You'll  have  to  excuse  him,  boys,"  interposed  De 
Banyan.  "  He  never  drinks  whiskey ;  it  don't  agree 
with  him.     Have  you  any  French  brandy?" 

"  Not  a  drop." 

The  major  knew  they  had  not ;  he  was  aware  that 


THE  FOE  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  197 

Somers  would  fight  the  whole  crowd  rather  than  take  a 
glass  of  liquor  of  any  kind. 

Somers  was  bewildered  by  the  scene  before  him  ;  but 
he  readily  understood  that  his  friend  was  corapromisino' 
with  unfavorable  circumstances,  and  he  did  what  he  could 
to  help  the  illusion,  though  he  did  not  know  what  De 
Banyan  had  said  or  done  to  create  such  remarkably  good 
fellowship  between  himself  and  such  wretched  outlaws. 
He  sat  down  at  the  table  and  ate  heartily  of  the  bacon 
and  bread,  which  were  very  acceptable,  for  our  travellers 
had  eaten  nothing  since  breakfast. 

"  Here's  to  the  health  of  Jeff  Davis  ! "  said  the  man 
at  the  opposite  end  of  the  table,  who  appeared  to  be  the 
commander  of  the  squad.     *'  All  up." 

The  guerillas  rose  to  their  feet,  De  Banyan  with  them, 
with  a  glass  in  his  hand. 

*'  All  up  ! "  exclaimed  the  major,  heartily. 

Somers  rose  then,  with  a  glass  of  water  in  his  hand, 
which  a  black  woman  in  attendance  had  brouo-ht  him : 
but  he  had  no  more  intention  of  drinking  the  health  of 
Jeff  Davis,  even  in  a  glass  of  water,  than  he  had  of  sup- 
porting the  arch  rebel  with  his  sword. 

"  President  Davis,"  said  the  leader. 

"  President  —  Lincoln,"  added  the  major,  dropping  his 
voice  as  he  uttered  the  last  word. 

"  President  —  Lincoln,"  repeated  Somers,  in  the  same 
manner. 

17* 


198  FIGETINO    JOE,    OR 

"  One  more !  "  shouted  the  commander  of  the  squad, 
as  he  filled  his  glass  again  ;  and  his  example  was  followed 
by  all  present.     "  Here's  confusion  to  the  Yankees  !  " 

"  Confusion  to  the  Yankees !  "  repeated  the  other 
guerillas. 

"  Confusion  to  the  —  rebels !  "  said  De  Banyan  and 
Somers,  using  the  same  tactics  as  before. 

The  guerillas,  as  if  satisfied  that  they  had  firmly  es- 
tablished Jeff  Davis  on  his  throne,  and  hurled  confusion 
among  the  Yankees,  rose  from  the  table.  Their  leader 
came  over  and  took  De  Banyan  by  the  hand. 

"  What  did  you  say  your  name  was?"  asked  he. 

*'  De  Banyan,"  replied  the  other. 

"  And  you  are  going  to  join  Wheeler's  cavalry?  " 

"  That's  what's  the  matter,"  answered  the  major,  who 
readily  adapted  himself  to  the  manners  of  his  new 
friends. 

"  Can't  we  make  it  worth  your  while  to  stay  with 
us?"  continued  the  chief.  "You  are  a  good  fellow, 
and  look  as  though  you  could  fight." 

"  Wheeler  expects  me,  and  I  don't  wish  to  disappoint 
him.     I'm  going  on  his  staff." 

"  There  is  something  up  to-night,"  said  the  chief,  con- 
fidentially ; ,"  and  you  may  make  your  fortune  in  a  few 
days." 

"  I  don't  object  to  that." 

"  I'll  tell  you  about  it,  if  you  like." 


TSE   FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  199 

"  I  don't  object." 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  will,  either ;  it  would  hardly  be 
prudent  for  me  to  do  so.  You  may  be  one  of  those 
shrewd  Yankees,  after  all.  You  know  you  wear  Yankee 
colors,"  added  the  chief,  doubtfully. 

"  I  tell  you  I  was  born  in  Winchester,  not  twenty 
miles  from  here  ;  and  I  am  no  more  a  Yankee  than  you 
are,"  protested  the  major. 

"  I'll  trust  you,"  said  the  leader.  "  You  can't  spoil 
the  job,  if  you  don't  help  us.  You  are  a  tonguy  fellow, 
and  I  want  you  more  than  I  want  the  girl  that  promised 
to  marry  me  when  the  war  is  over.  I've  got  the  smart- 
est set  of  men  that  ever  sat  in  a  saddle.  They  are  all 
Texans." 

"  I  see  they  are,"  added  De  Banyan,  glancing  at  the 
cutthi'oats  who  formed  the  squad.  , 

"  I've  got  the  keenest  scout  on  the  lookout  for  me  that 
you  can  find  this  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  He*s  a 
young  fellow  of  eighteen,  and  goes  mside  the  Yankee 
lines  like  a  native.  We  go  in  for  making  money  out  of 
this  thing,  while  we  do  a  good  job  for  the  South." 

"  Of  course,"  said  De  Banyan,  carelessly. 

"  There's  a  pay-master  coming  down  from  Nashville, 
on  one  of  these  trains,  with  a  heap  of  greenbacks  to  pay 
off  the  Yankee  army.  We  want  those  greenbacks,  and 
we  shall  have  them  too." 

"  Kyou  can  get  them,"  suggested  De  Banyan. 


200  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

*'  TV?  can  get  them ;  and  if  you  want  your  share  of 
them,  you  have  only  to  join  my  company.  If  you  will, 
I'll  tell  you  the  rest." 

"  I'm  yours,"  replied  the  major. 

"  And  you  ? "  asked  the  leader,  turning  to  Somers, 
who  had  been  listening  eagerly  to  the  conversation. 

"  I  go  with  De  Banyan." 

"  Good  !  Tippy  —  that's  my  scout  —  will  come  down 
in  the  train  with  the  pay-master.  The  cars  will  stop  at 
the  broken  bridge,  and  Tippy  will  come  over  here  with 
his  information ;  and  all  I  have  to  do  then  will  be  to 
pounce  on  the  escort,  and  pocket  the  greenbacks.  "What 
do  you  think  of  it  ?  " 

"  It's  a  tip-top  idea,  and  I'm  with  you.'* 

*'  I  expect  Tippy  will  be  here  to-morrow." 

"  All  right ;  I  can  help  you  about  this  business." 

*'  You  can  ;  now,  if  you  could  step  in  and  tell  the  pay- 
master you  are  a  Yankee,  and  with  that  smooth  tongue 
of  yours  prevent  him  from  taking  too  much  cavalry  with 
'  Lim,  you  would  earn  your  share  of  the  money." 

"  I  wiU  do  it." 

"  You  can  make  a  man  believe  anything." 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  go  at  once." 

"  O,  no ;  there  is  no  need  of  going  till  Tippy  comes 
with  the  news." 

"  I  think  I  had  better  meet  the  train  on  the  way." 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  the  guerilla,  shaking  his  head. 


THE  FORTUNES    OF   4    STAFF    OFFICER.  201 

"  "We  never  let  our  recruits  go  out  till  we  know  them 
better  than  I  know  you." 

"  You  won't  trust  me  ?  " 

*'  Not  yet." 

*'  Very  well,"  said  De  Banyan,  easily.  "  My  horse 
and  servant  are  out  in  the  storm  now.  I  will  take  care 
of  them." 

*'  We  will  go  with  you ;  "  and  half  a  dozen  of  the 
villains  followed  De  Banyan  and  Somers  to  the  place 
where  they  had  left  the  servants  and  the  horses. 


•  • 


202  FiGHTma  joe,  or 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

TIPPY,   THE    SCOUT. 

#N  the  way  out  of  the  house,  De  Banyan  whis- 
pered a  few  words  in  the  ear  of  Somers,  while 
they  were  in  the  darkness  of  the  entry.  There 
was  very  great  danger  that  things  might  get  a  little 
mixed ;  that  Alick  and  the  other  servant  might  tell 
wrong  stories  about  their  respective  masters. 

"  Tell  Alick  to  say  we  are  rebels,"  was  the  substance 
of  the  communication. 

When  they  reached  the  spot  where  the  horses  had  been 
left,  Somers  told  his  man  what  to  say.  It  was  fortunate 
that  he  did  so  promptly,  for  the  guerilla  leader,  ap- 
parently suspecting  something,  suddenly  became  very 
officious,  and  kept  close  to  the  recruits.  The  horses 
were  taken  to  the  stable,  where  they  were  placed  with 
the  others,  after  which  the  party  returned  to  the  house, 
followed  by  the  servants.  •  • 

"What's  your  master's  name?"  demanded  Captain 
Lynchman,  the  leader  of  the  guerillas,  of  Alick. 

"  Captain  Somers,  sar,"  replied  the  faithful  fellow. 


THE   FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  203 

**  Wliat  is  he  captain  of?  " 

*'  Dimno,  sar." 

"  Where  did  you  come  from?  " 

"  Up  above,  sar." 

"  Is  your  master  a  Union  man  ?  " 

"I  reckon  he  isn't,  sar.  He*s  a  right  smart  reb'l, 
ear." 

"  Where  are  you  going?  " 

"  Dunno,  sar." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  his  service  ?  " 

"  Much  as  a  monf,  sar." 

The  captain  asked  many  other  questions,  but  Alick 
gave  prudent  answers  ;  he  did  not  know  much,  and  what 
he  did  know,  he  did  not  know  certainly.  De  Banyan's 
man,  taking  his  cue  from  his  fellow-servant,  answered,  in 
similar  terms,  and  nothing  was  made  out  of  either  of 
them. 

During  the  eveninor  Somers  learned,  from  various 
members  of  the  band,  that  the  guerillas  were  only  a  por- 
tion of  an  organized  body,  duly  recognized  by  the  Con- 
federate government,  engaged  in  partisan  warfare.  The 
talent  and  address  of  Major  de  Banyan  had  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  chief,  who  affected  strategy  rather  than 
a  bold  and  dashing  policy.  Captain  Lynchman's  percep- 
tion was  creditable  to  him,  and  if  the  major  would  have 
engaged  in  the  foul  business,  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  an  invaluable  assistant. 


204  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

Our  travellers  were  regarded  as  members  of  the  band, 
but  really  they  were  prisoners.  They  found  no  opportu- 
nity to  interchange  a  word  of  counsel,  or  to  take  a 
single  step  for  their  future  safety.  Both  of  them  were 
anxious  to  reach  the  headquarters  of  '_'  Fighting  Joe  ; " 
but  the  delay  was  not  voluntary  on  their  part.  De  Ban- 
yan had  chosen  between  capture  and  compromise.  He 
had  presented,  as  he  always  did,  a  bold  front,  and  dis- 
armed suspicion  in  the  beginning  by  his  skill  and 
address  —  had  actually  won  the  hearts  cf  his  new 
companions.  Jj 

Captain  Lynchman  affected  strategy,  and  while  he 
carefully  watched  the  recruits,  he  treated  them  with  the 
utmost  consideration.  His  future  movements  depended 
upon  the  information  to  be  brought  by  Tippy,  the  scout. 
After  the  horses  had  been  cared  for,  the  guerillas  retired 
for  the  night,  some  of  them  taking  the  beds,  sofas,  and 
divans,  others  stretching  themselves  on  the  floors ;  but 
there  was  no  part  of  the  house  which  was  not  occupied 
by  them,  and  there  was  no  opportunity  for  our  travellers 
to  "  cut "  their  unpleasant  associates  during  the  night,  as 
4hey  had  hoped  and  expected  to  do. 

Early  in  tile  morning,  Tippy,  the  scout,  arrived.  All 
the  guerillas  were  at  the  stables,  attending  to  the  horses, 
when  his  coming  was  announced.  The  men  Avere  ordered 
to  be  ready  to  mount  at  an  instant's  notice ;  while 
Captain  Lynchman  hastened  to  the  house,  to  receive  the 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  205 

intelligence  brought  by  the   scout,  who  was  eating  his 
breakfast  in  the  kitchen. 

"  De  Banyan,  I  shall  want  you,"  said  the  IcacJ^r ; 
"  your  work  will  commence  about  this  time.  It  will 
take  the  greenback  train  an  hour  or  two  to  get  ready  for 
a  start.     Come  with  me." 

"  I  am  ready  for  anything,"  replied  the  major ;  and 
followed  by  Somers,  he  repaired  to  the  house  with  the 
guerilla  chief. 

They  entered  by  the  front  door,  and  taking  possession 
of  the  drawing-room,  the  captain  ordered  Skinley,  who 
seemed  to  be  the  commissary-general  of  the  gang,  to  send 
the  scout  into  the  room. 

'*  Skinley,  you'll  be  deaf  now,"  said  Captain  Lynch- 
man. 

"  I  reckon  they  ain't  none  so  deef  as  them  that  won't 
hear,"  responded  the  Texan. 

"  Then  you  won't  hear  what  Tippy  has  to  say.  Bring 
him  in." 

"  Tippy's  half  starved,  cap'n ;  they  don't  feed  'em 
much  up  among  the  Yanks." 

*'  Let  him  eat,  but  tell  him  to  15e  quick." 

Skinley  left  the  room ;  and  then,  for  the  first  time, 
the  captain  noticed  the  presence  of  Somers,  and  told  him 
to  leave  the  room. 

"  He's   my   friend.   Captain  Lynchman ;    I   have   no 
secrets  from  him,"  interposed  the  major,  with  dignity. 
18 


206  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  If  you  can't  trust  him,  you  can't  trust  me,  and  we  will 
move  on  to  the  headquarters  of  Wheeler's  cavalry." 

i'  Just  as  you  please,  major,"  replied  Lynchman ;  "  but 
it  is  hardly  regular." 

"  Nothing  is  very  regular  about  these  partisans.  It  is 
just  as  regular  for  him  as  for  me.  He  is  my  right-hand 
man,  and  I  can't  do  anything  without  him.  I  don't  ask 
your  confidence,  and  I  don't  want  it.  I  am  just  as 
willing  to  go  about  my  business  as  I  am  to  stay 
with  you." 

"  /  am  not  willing,  after  telling  you  my  plans." 

"  What  did  you  tell  them  to  me  for,  then  ?  " 

"  Because  I  wanted  you  ;  and  I  did  not  expect  to  get 
you  without  offering  big  inducements.  We  shall  divide 
three  or  four  millions  in  greenbacks  to-day,  if  we  manage 
well.     I  believe  in  strategy  in  a  case  like  this." 

"  So  do  I ;  and  that  is  the  very  reason  w^hy  I  want 
Somers  to  know-all  about  the  matter." 

While  they  were  talking  about  it,  Tippy,  the  scout,  en- 
tered the  room.  He  was  a  young  man,  with  a  bright  eye 
and  a  manly  form,  and  looked  as  though  he  was  capable 
o!"  doing  all  that  had  been  claimed  for  him.  He  had 
eaten  his  morning  meal  very  hastily  ;  indeed,  he  had  not 
5nished  it  when  he  presented  himself  in  the  drawing- 
room,  for  his  mouth  was  even  now  crammed  full  of  corn 
cake,  which  he  was  trying  to  dispose  of  so  that  he  could 
speak. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF   OFFICER.  207 

Tippy  looked  at  Captain  Lynchman  first,  crunching 
the  food  in  his  mouth  in  the  most  vigorous  manner. 
From  the  leader,  he  glanced  at  Somers,  who  stood  next 
to  him.  De  Banyan  had  walked  away  to  a  window  on 
the  other  side  of  the  room,  and  as  he  turned  to  come 
back,  the  scout  looked  at  him.  Instantly  his  jaws  ceased 
their  movements,  and  he  started  back,  apparently  filled 
with  astonishment.  Somers  looked  at  the  major,  who 
stood  calmly  at  his  side  ;  but  it  was  evident  that  he  was 
not  wholly  unmoved  by  the  appearance  of  Tippy. 

"  Well,  what  does  all  this  mean?"  demanded  Captain 
Lynchman. 

Somers  again  glanced  at  the  major,  and  saw  him  give 
the  scout  a  very  slight,  but  energetic  shake  of  the  head, 
accompanied  by  a  look  which  seemed  to  penetrate  to  the 
very  soul  of  Tippy. 

"TVhy  don't  you  speak?"  demanded  Lynchman,  im- 
patiently. 

Tippy  improved  this  opportunity,  still  gazing  intently 
on  Major  de  Banyan,  to  swallow  the  food  in  his  mouth. 
He  finished  this  operation,  and  Lynchman  waited  for  him 
to  explain  his  singular  conduct. 

*'  Have  you  lost  your  tongue?  "  cried  he,  jumping  out 
of  his  chair. 

"  I  cannot  speak,"  replied  Tippy,  exhibiting  a  great 
deal  of  emotion  in  his  tones. 

"  Cannot  speak !    Do  you  know  this  man  ?  " 


208  FJGHTIXG    JOE,    OB 

"  I  do." 

"Who  is  he?" 

"  Let  him  answer  for  himself.  It  is  not  for  me  to 
speak  in  his  presence." 

"  What  does  all  this  mean?  "  said  the  guerilla  leader, 
bewildered  by  the  new  aspect  of  affairs.  "  Who  is  this 
man,  that  you  cannot  speak  in  his  presence?  "  he  added, 
turning  to  the  major. 

"  He  is  a  bigger  man  than  you  or  me,"  answered  the 
scout,  mysteriously. 

"  That  may  be,  but  I  command  here.  Is  he  a  traitor, 
or  a  Yankee  ?  " 

"  No  !  "  almost  shouted  the  scout.  "  He  belonged  to 
Winchester  once.     He  is  a  Tennesseean." 

"  Good ! "  exclaimed  the  captain,  apparently  much 
pleased  with  this  confirmation  of  what  the  major  had 
said  of  himself. 

"  Give  your  information,  Tippy,"  added  De  Banyan, 
with  an  awful  exhibition  of  dignity,  as  though  he  were 
the  "  big  man "  whom  the  scout  had  represented  him 
to  be. 

,  "  Not  yet,"  said  Lynchman.     "  I  want  to  understand 
this  matter  a  little  better." 

"  We  have  been  in  Nashville  together.  We  have 
worked  together  for  years,"  interposed  De  Banyan. 

"0,  that's  the  idea  —  is  it?"  said  the  leader  of  the 
guerillas.  "  Then  you  are  a  scout  yourself,  Major  de 
Banyan  ?  " 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  209 

*'  I  have  done  a  great  deal  of  hard  work  in  Virginia 
and  in  Tennessee.  I  have  stood  by  the  flag  almost  from 
the  beginning,"  returned  the  major. 

"Is  this  so,  Tippy?" 

"  It  is.  Captain  Lynchraan.  Whatever  he  says  is  right." 

"  Major,  I  am  satisfied  now,"  said  the  chief,  extending 
his  hand  to  De  Banyan.  *'  I  wanted  to  repose  implicit 
confidence  in  you  before,  but  prudence  forbade." 

"  We  are  losing  time,"  said  De  Banyan. 

"  Now  tell  your  story,  Tippy,"  added  Lynchman. 

Somers  was  confounded  by  the  events  which  had  just 
transpired  before  him.  He  did  not  know  what  to  make  of 
them.  His  friend  had  a  wonderful  power  over  the  scout, 
which  he  could  not  explain ;  but  whatever  occurred,  he 
knew  that  De  Banyan  was  a  true  man  ;  that  the  recogni- 
tion and  devotion  of  the  rebel  scout  to  him  were  no 
evidences  of  infidelity.  He  could  not  understand,  but  he 
could  trust  the  major. 

"  Shall  I  go  on,  sir?"  said  the  scout,  appealing  to  the 
major. 

"  Certainly  ;  proceed,"  replied  De  Banyan. 

Tippy's  story  was  short  and  to  the  point.  The  pay- 
master with  the  greenbacks  had  arrived,  and  there  was 
present  a  force  of  about  a  hundred  cavalry  to  convoy 
him  to  his  place  of  destination. 

*'  A  hundred  !  "  exclaimed  the  captain,  vexed  at  this 
information.     "  I  shall  want  the  rest  of  my  men." 
18* 


210  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

*'  You  bet !  "  exclaimed  a  deep  voice  near  the  door,  in 
low,  emphatic  tones,  as  though  they  had  been  used  in 
soliloquy. 

"  Skinley  !  "  cried  the  captain,  angrily. 

There  was  no  reply,  and  Lynchman  repeated  the  call 
half  a  dozen  times,  as  loud  as  he  could  yell. 

"  D'ye  call  me,  cap'n  ?  "  said  the  Texan,  coming  to  the 
door,  which  was  now  discovered  to  be  partially  open. 

"  I  did  ;  you  have  been  listening  at  the  door." 

"  Fotch  'em  as  soon  as  I  kin,  cap'n,"  said  the  burly 
fellow,  innocently. 

"  None  of  that  with  me,"  added  Lynchman,  angrily. 

"  Bet  yer  life  they  ain't,  cap'n." 

"  Silence,  you  villain  !  "  thundered  the  captain,  taking 
a  pistol  from  his  belt. 

"  Take  keer,  cap'n  !  " 

''Can't  you  hear,  Skinley?  If  you  can't,  I'll  open 
your  ears." 

"  You  told  me  to  be  deef,  cap'n." 

"  I  did ;  and  you  have  been  listening  to  all  that  has 
been  said  in  this  room." 

"  I  was  afeered  you  mought  forget  some  on't,  and 
mought  wan't  me  to  remound  you  of  it." 

"  Come  here." 

"Here 'ml,  cap'n." 

"  Do  you  know  where  the  rest  of  our  men  are?" 

"  If  I  don't,  nobody  don't." 


THE  FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  211 

"  Ride  over  there  as  fast  as  you  can,  and  tell  Sweetzer 
to  meet  me  at  Tantallon  cross-roads  at  once,  with  all  his 
force.     Do  you  understand  ?  " 

*'  I  kin  hear  now,  cap'u." 

"  It  will  take  you  an  hour  to  go,  and  another  hour  for 
Sweetzer  to  reach  the  cross-roads." 

"  How  many  men  have  you?  "  demanded  De  Banyan, 
in  business-like  tones. 

"  About  a  hundred,"  replied  the  captain.  "  We  can 
make  a  sure  thing  of  it,  for  we  shall  outnumber  the  Yan- 
kees, and  choose  our  own  ground  besides." 

"  Wliere  are  they  now?  " 

*'At  Raybold's,  on  the  Salem  road.  I  have  driven 
them  hard  lately,  and  I  gave  them  a  few  days  to  rest." 

''  I  know  the  place.     It  is  near  the  mountains." 

*'  Just  so.  I  believe  in  strategy,  and  I  thought  I 
should  do  better  with  twenty  men  than  I  should  with  over 
a  hundred  ;  but  I  calculated  to  take  the  greenbacks  on  the 
train." 

"  Your  plans  are  good  ;  but  do  you  send  only  one  man 
on  such  a  message?  Suppose  he  should  fall  from  his 
horse,  or  be  shot  by  a  Yankee?  " 

"  I  can't  spare  but  one,  for  I  may  have  to  do  the  job 
•  before  the  rest  of  my  force  arrives." 

"  Send  Somers,"  suggested  the  major. 

"What  good  would  that  do?  He  couldn't  find  my 
men?" 


212  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

"  Do  you  know  where  Raybold's  is,  Somers  ?  "  asked 
the  major. 

"  Certainly  I  do — just  by  the  mountains  on  the  Salem 
road,"  replied  Somers,  who  had  given  good  attention  to 
the  conversation. 

"  Right ;  you  will  do,"  added  the  captain. 

And  Somers  went  with  Skinley. 


TSX   FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  213 


CHAPTER    XX. 


SKINLEY,    THE   TEXAN. 


OMERS  readily  understood  that  lie  was  sent  off 
by  the  major  for  a  purpose ;  but  De  Banyan 
had  no  opportunity  to  explain  his  intention  be- 
fore he  went.  It  was  plain  that  a  very  important  part 
in  the  plan  for  frustrating  the  object  of  the  guerillas  had 
been  intrusted  to  him,  but  he  had  not  a  single  word  of 
instructions. 

As  Somers  mounted  his  horse,  he  saw  De  Banyan 
and  Tippy  leave  the  estate  and  ride  off  in  the  direction 
of  the  railroad,  and  he  doubted  not  that  he  had  been  sent 
to  delay  the  pay-master,  and  assure  him  that  the  road  to 
the  army  was  perfectly  safe.  After  the  full  and  unequiv- 
ocal indorsement  of  Tippy,  the  major  was  fully  estab- 
lished in  the  confidence  of  the  guerilla,  who  unreservedly 
communicated  to  him  his  hopes  and  his  expectations. 

Somers  joined  Skinley,  who  was  to  be  his  companion 
in  tliis  morning  ride.  The  "  Texican,"  as  he  delighted  to 
call  himself,  was  a  stout  fellow,  good-humored,  and  im- 
mensely fond  of  a  joke.     Lynchman  appeared  to  repose 


214  FIOHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

great  confidence  in  him ;  otherwise  he  would  not  have 
sent  him  upon  his  present  duty.  The  ruffian  was  armed 
from  head  to  foot  with  rifle,  pistols,  and  a  knife,  and 
looked  like  a  moving  arsenal.  lie  w^as  a  formidable 
person  for  a  young  man  like  Somers  to  deal  with,  and 
yet  it  was  fully  evident  that  he  had  been  sent  by  the 
major  to  prevent  the  "  Texican  "  from  delivering  his 
message. 

The  young  officer  did  not  like  the  duty,  for  there  was 
apparently  only  one  way  in  which  he  could  discharge  it ; 
and  that  was,  by  deliberately  shooting  his  ugly  compan- 
ion. All  the  carnage  and  death  he  had  seen  in  the  course 
of  the  war — ^^and  he  had  seen  a  great  deal  of  them  — 
had  not  impaired  his  respect  for  human  life.  He  could 
not  wantonly  sacrifice  even  an  enemy.  He  was  with 
this  man  as  his  friend  —  in  disguise,  it  was  true ;  but 
the  Texan  trusted  him  —  did  not  regard  him  as  a  foe. 
To  turn  upon  him  in  the  moment  when  he  suspected  no 
danger,  looked  cowardly ;  and  his  chivalrous  soul  re- 
volted at  the  act.  Kuffian,  rebel,  traitor,  as  this  man 
"was,  he  was  one  of  God's  creatures,  made  in  his  own 
image,  and  nothing  but  the  severest  necessity  could  jus- 
tify the  killing  of  him. 

Thus  he  reasoned  on  the  one  hand  ;  but  on  the  other, 
this  man  was  going  to  procure  a  force  to  shoot  down  the 
loyal  soldiers  of  the  Union ;  to  rob  the  government  of 
the  money  intended  for  the  troops,  upon  whose  earnings 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  215 

^vives  and  children  depended  for  their  daily  bread.  But 
tiiis  was  ^Yar  —  what  the  custom  of  civilized  nations  jus- 
tified ;  while  killing  a  man  in  cold  blood  was  an  act  of 
treachery  from  which  he  could  not  but  shrink.  War  had 
not  debased  him,  for  he  still  read  his  Bible,  and  still 
i^leaned  for  strength  and  guidance  upon  that  arm  which 
can  lead  and  support  all  who  confide  in  its  almighty 
power. 

Somers  felt  that  he  could  not  do  this  deed.  It  was 
too  revolting,  too  barbarous ;  and  yet  it  must  be  done, 
or  others  would  bleed  and  die  for  his  want  of  nerve.  He 
could  not  settle  the  troublesome  question,  and  he  de- 
termined to  defer  the  deed  as  long  as  he  could  without 
imperilling  the  safety  of  the  pay-master  and  his  escort. 

"  Well,  youngster,  you  mought  be  sent  out  to  keep  me 
warm,  I  'spose,"  said  Skinley,  as  Somers  rode  up  to  his 
side,  after  he  had  carefully  considered  the  mission  upon 
which  he  had  obviously  been  sent. 

"  Yes,  if  you  are  cold,"  replied  Somers. 

"  I  am  cold,  Somers.  May  be  yei>  hain't  got  a  bottle 
of  whiskey  in  yer  pocket  —  hain't  yer  ?  " 

*'  I  have  not ;  I  never  use  it." 

"  So  I  heerd  the  major  say  ;  but  hain't  yer  got  nothin' 
stowed  away  about  yer  —  any  brandy,  or  sich  like  ?  " 

*'  I  have  not." 

"  Well,  Somers,  I  tell  yer  what  it  is,  Somers,  it  was  a 
great  mistake  comin'  off  without  no  whiskey,  Somers." 


216  FIGHTING    JOE,    OB 

"  I  don't  think  so." 

"  Don't  yer,  Somers?" 

"  I  can  get  along  very  well  without  it." 

"  May  be  you  can,  Somers  ;    but  I  can't.     I  feed  on 
whiskey,  Somers  ;  and  I  could  no  more  go  to  Raybold's 
without  sunthin'  to  drink  than  I  could  go  afoot  on  boss-  ^ 
back,  or  go  hossback  afoot ;  'n'  I  take  it,  Somers,  that 
can't  be  did." 

*'  But  you  will  have  to  go  without  it,  if  you  have  none." 

''  No,  I  won't — you  bet !  "  exclaimed  Skinley.  "  Thar's 
a  Union  house  over  here  a  good  piece.  They  alius  has 
whiskey  and  bacon  when  we  poor  fellers  has  to  thust  fur 
meat  and  hunger  fur  liquor.  The  old  man,  I  cal'late,  is 
a  fust  cousin  of  some  gin'ral,  or  some  of  them  fellers  in 
Richmond,  fur  he's  got  some  sort  o'  paper.  I'm  gwine 
to  git  a  drink  when  we  git  thar  —  bet  yer  life." 

"  But  if  they  have  a  safe-conduct,  you  can't  compel 
them  to  give  you  anything.  They  will  show  you  the 
paper,"  replied  Somers. 

*'  Let  'em  show  it^  Somers  ;  I  can't  read  it,"  chuckled 
the  Texan. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Well,  Somers,  I  ain't  up  to  print,  say  nothin'  of 
writin'.  If  they  make  any  muss  about  it,  I  kin  tell  'em 
it  was  all  a  mistake  —  don't  yer  see,  Somers  ?  May  be 
I  mought  be  deef  too,  Somers." 

"  Perhaps  they  will  read  it  to  you." 


THE    FORTUNES    OP    A    STAFF    OFFICEIi.  217 

♦'  Then  I'm  deef,  sartin." 

*'  Very  likely  they  will  give  you  what  you  want,  if 
you  ask  them  civilly." 

*'  No,  they  wou't,  Soraers.  They  hate  us  wuss  'n 
pizen  ;  but  I  hate  them  wuss  'n  they  hate  me." 

*'  What  have  they  done  ?  " 

*'  They  hain't  done  nothiu',  and  that's  what  I  hate  'em 
fur.  The  Yanks  won't  tech  'em,  and  we  can't  tech  'em, 
Somers.  It  stands  to  reason,  Somers,  sech  folks  ought 
to  be  hated.'* 

Somers  decided  not  to  discuss  this  question,  and  he  had 
dropped  a  few  paces  behind  his  companion  to  avoid  his 
slang,  when  Skinley  exhibited  a  disposition  to  be  sociable, 
and  insisted  that  the  road  was  wide  enough  for  them  to 
ride  abreast.  The  young  officer  did  not  want  to  quarrel 
with  the  ruffian,  and  he  complied  with  his  request. 

"  Thar's  a  pooty  gal  over  to  Callicot's,  Somers," 
added  he,  with  a  coarse  grin.  "  P'rhaps  you'll  think 
more  of  that  than  yer  do  of  the  whiskey." 

"Is  she  a  Union  girl?"  asked  Somers  —  more  be- 
cause he  felt  compelled  to  speak  than  because  he  felt  any 
interest  in  the  new  subject. 

"  In  course  she  are." 

"  You  don't  intend  to  meddle  with  her,  I  hope." 

"What  makes  yer  hope  that?"  demanded  Skinley, 
sourly. 

"  Are  you  a  soldier,  Skinley?" 
19 


218  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  You  bet !  " 

"  A  true  soldier  always  respects  a  woman,  whether 
she  be  friend  or  foe." 

"  Somers,  your  idees  is  a  little  too  fine  cut  fur  me," 
snarled  the  Texan. 

"  Have  you  a  mother?" 

"  Not 's  I  knows  on.  She  gin  me  the  slip  when  I  wan't 
knee  high  to  a  chaw  terbaker." 

"Is  she  dead?" 

"  I  cal'late  she  is." 

"  Have  you  no  sister?" 

"  May  be  I  hev'.  See  here,  Somers,  you  kin  draw 
yer  charge  on  that.  Yer  mought  be  a  preacher,  or  sich 
like  ;  but  don't  yer  draw  that  string  on  me." 

"  Very  well ;  I  have  nothing  to  say,  only  that,  if  you 
propose  to  insult  a  woman,  I  am  your  enemy." 

"Be  you?" 

Skinley  took  a  pistol  from  his  belt,  and  deliberately 
cocked  and  pointed  it  at  Somers,  to  whom  the  act  seemed 
to  reveal  his  companion  in  a  new  light. .  It  was  naturally 
to  be  supposed  that  a  man  who  carried  such  an  armory 
of  weapons  on  his  person  was  a  dangerous  fellow ;  but 
from  this  moment  Somers  looked  upon  him  as  a  bully. 
He  had  given  the  ruffian  no  cause  of  offence  for  which 
he  could  resort  to  desperate  measures. 

"  If  you  insult  a  woman,  I  am,"  replied  Somers, 
quietly  drawing  a  large  navy  revolver  which  he  carried 
in  his  belt. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER. 


219 


u  Put  up  your  shooter,  Somers,"  said  Skinley,  with  a 
sickly  laugh,  as  he  lowered  his  pistol. 

u  I  am  Dot  quite  ready  to  put  it  up,"  replied  Somers, 
sternly  ;  for  he  had  made  up  his  mind  that  the  time  to 
execute  the  task  imposed  upon  him  had  come.  "  When 
a  man  draws  a  pistol  upon  me,  he  insults  me." 

a  I  only  did  it  to  see  what  sort  of  stuff  you  mought  be 
made  of,  Somers  -  that's  all,"  answered  Skinley. 

u  I  am  not  satisfied  with  that  explanation.  I  would 
like  to  know  ^lat  sort  of  stuff  you  '  mought'  be  made 
of  now,"  said  Somers,  imitating  the  speech  of  his  com- 

panion. 

"  I'm  a  Texican.  I  was  born  in  the  woods,  nussed  on 
hickory  nuts,  and  turned  out  to  paster  in  a  cane-brake. 
When  I  kirn  of  age  I  fed  on  gunpowder,  and  druv'  four 
aUi-^ators,  four  in  band,  bitched  to  a  sulky.  That's 
that's  the  matter.  Don't  you  know  now  what  sort  of 
stuff  I  mought  be  made  of?" 

"  Slang  and  brag,  I  should  say,  were  the  principal 
ingredients  in  your  composition.    You  have  insulted  me." 
""  I  ax  yer  pai^on  ;  put  up  yer  shooter." 
Somers  did  so,  but  very  reluctantly.     It  was  only  post- 
poning his  mission;  though  the  discovery  that  h.s  com- 
panion was  a  coward  at  heart,  in  spite  of  his  .words,  and 
in  spite  of  the  liberal  display  of  arms  about  h>m,  led 
him  to  hope  that  he  might  dispose  of  him  in  some  better 
way  than  shooting  him. 


220  FIGHTiyO    JOE,    OR 

"  I  ax  yer  pardon  ;  that's  what  a  Texican  does  when 
he  finds  he  mou";ht  be  in  the  wronjr." 

"  Very  well.  Now,  if  we  can't  talk  without  quarrel- 
ling, I  will  keep  a  little  in  the  rear." 

"  Jest  as  you  say,  Somers." 

They  rode  along  in  silence  for  a  time,  till  they  reached 
a  house  much  superior  to  most  of  those  they  had  seen  on 
the  road,  at  which  Skinley  halted. 

"  I'm  sufferin'  for  my  bitters,  Somers,"  said  the  Texan, 
as  he  reined  in  his  steed.  • 

"  Is  this  the  house  of  the  Union  man?  " 

"  Bet  yer  life  'tis.  I  only  want  a  little  drop  of  whis- 
key," replied  Skinley,  as  he  rode  vip  the  lane  by  the 
house,  followed  by  his  companion.  "  I  w^ou't  stop  only 
a  second." 

The  guerilla  dismounted,  and  throwing  the  bridle  rein 
of  his  horse  over  a  post,  he  entered  without  the  cere- 
mony of  knocking.  "When  he  had  gone  in,  Somers  rode 
forward  till  he  came  to  the  windows  of  the  house,  for  he 
was  fearful  that  the  conduct  of  the  Texan  w^ould  not  be 
conciliatory,  and  he  was  disposed  to  defend  the  Union 
people  within,  even  at  the  peril  of  his  life. 

Skinley  was  absent  some  time  —  longer  than  a  due 
regard  for  the  urgency  of  his  mission  would  have  tol- 
erated ;  but  Somers  was  in  no  hurry  to  reach  Raybold's 
himself,  and  was  not  impatient  on  account  of  the  delay. 
It  was  evident  that  the  wretch  had  not  readily  procured 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICEB.  221 

his  dram ;  and  his  companion  feared  that  he  might  re- 
sort to  violence  in  enforcing  his  demand.  The  delay 
indicated  trouble  within  the  house,  and  Somers  dis- 
mounted. Fastening  his  horse  to  a  gate,  he  walked 
towards  the  entrance.  He  was  not  one  moment  too  soon, 
for  before  he  could  reach  the  door,  he  heard  a  piercing 
scream  uttered   by  a  female.     He  rushed   in  with  his 

revolver  in  his   hand. 

"  Don't  yell,"  said  Skinley,  as  he  entered.     "I  only 

want  yer  to  bring  on  the  whiskey.     I'm  so  deef  I  can't 

hear  yer,  if  yer  do  yell." 

Somers  stopped  at  the  door  of  the  room  where  the 

parties  were  ;  for,  indignant  as  he  was,  he  was  always 

prudent.     He  cocked  the  pistol,  and  took  a  survey  of  the 

situation. 

"  I  tell  you  there  is  not  a  drop  of  whiskey  in  the 
house,  and  has  not  been  for  two  years,"  replied  the 
female,  who  was  a  young  and  well-dressed  lady,  and 
whose  personal  attractions  fuUy  justified  the  Texan's 
commendation  of  them. 

*'  Yer  mought  tell  that  to  a  dead  alligator,  and  he'd 
scretch  yer  eyes  out  fur't,"  added  the  ruffian. 

*'  I  have  told  you  the  truth  ;  there  is  not  a  drop  of 
liquor  of  any  kind  in  the  house." 

"  'Tain't  so ;  all  our  boys  knows  you  keeps  whiskey 
by  the  hogshead.    Now  fotch  on  the  liquor,  my  darlin* ; " 
and  as  he  spoke,  he  grasped  the  lady  by  the  arm. 
19* 


222  FIGHTING  JOE,    OR 

She  evidently  regarded  his  touch  as  pollution,  and 
again  screamed  lustily. 

"  See  hei^  ;  don't  be  so  techy.  I  ain't  gwine  ter  hurt 
yer." 

"  Father  !  "  cried  the  terrified  girl,  shrinking  from  the 
wretch. 

Somers  would  have  fired,  but  he  feared  the  report  and 
the  death  of  the  ruffian  before  her  face  would  be  too 
great  a  shock  for  the  lady.  She  was  frightened,  but  she 
seemed  to  have  perfect  control  of  herself. 

"  Say,  doxy,  won't  yer  fotch  on  the  whiskey?"  con- 
tinued Skinley ;  and  again  he  attempted  to  seize  the 
arm  of  the  lady,  who  fled  before  him. 

"  Father  !  "  screamed  she  again. 

Somers  stepped  into  the  room  ;  at  the  same  instant  an 
elderly  gentleman  rushed  in  by  a  door  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  apartment. 


i 


THE  FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF  OFFICER.  223 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE   HOUSE   OF   THE   UNION   MAN. 

^^?^HE  gentleman  who  entered  the  room  from  the 
gt  other  side  was  evidently  Mr.  Callicot,  the  father 
\fjy  of  the  lady,  and  the  Union  man  of  whom  the 
guerilla  had  spoken.  He  was  unarmed,  but  there  was  a 
rifle  hanging  against  the  wall,  after  the  manner  of  the 
South  and  West.  The  old  gentleman  was  out  of  breath 
from  hurry  and  excitement,  and  was  hardly  in  condition 
to  confront  the  ruffian,  who  had  been  bold  enough  in 
the  presence  of  a  timid  woman. 

"What  do  you  want  here?"  demanded  Mr.  Callicot, 
in  an  excited  tone. 

"  Nothin',  squire,  but  a  drink  of  whiskey,"  replied 
the  Texan,  glancing  first  at  Somers,  and  then  at  the 
old  man. 

"  There  is  not  a  drop  of  whiskey  in  my  house,  and 
has  not  been  for  years,"  answered  Mr.  Callicot. 

"  I'm  a  Texican,  squire,  and  yer  can't  cheat  me.  I 
was  born  in  the  woods,  and  I  kin  smell  whiskey  nine 
mile  off." 


224  FIGRTIXa   JOE,    OB 

*'  I  have  told  you  the  truth.'* 

"  No,  yer  hain't.  Fotch  on  your  whiskey,  squire," 
added  Skinley,  taking  one  of  his  pistols  from  his  belt. 

"  I  have  a  safe-conduct  from  the  general  of  this  de- 
partment," said  the  old  man.     "  Here  it  is." 

"  I  can't  read  it,  stranger.  Don't  want  ter  read  it, 
nuther." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  read  it,"  said  Mr.  Callicot,  walking 
across  the  room,  and  handing  it  to  Somers. 

"  Don't  yer  tech  it,  Somers,"  said  the  Texan,  angrily. 

Somers  took  the  paper,  glanced  at  it,  and  handed  it 
back  to  the  owner. 

"  Are  you  satisfied?"  asked  the  old  man. 

"  I  am." 

"  That  ain't  handsome,  Somers.  Bekase  you  don't 
drink  whiskey,  it's  onreasonable  that  you  should  spile  my 
drink.  But  I'm  gwine  to  hev  my  liquor.  Now,  squire, 
will  yer  fotch  on  the  whiskey,  or  won't  yer?" 

"  I  would  if  I  had  any." 

"  But  yer  hev,"  said  Skinley,  raising  his  pistol ;  and 
before  Somers  could  realize  that  he  intended  to  fire,  he 
discharged  the  piece  at  Mr.  Callicot. 

"  O,  my  father ! "  screamed  his  daughter,  rushing 
towards  him. 

"What  do  you  mean,  you  villain?"  cried  Somers, 
elevating  his  pistol,  and  instantly  firing. 

"  See  here,  Somers ;  that  ain't  handsome,"  replied 
Skinley.     "  I  didn't  tech  you." 


[ 


THE    FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  225 

In  the  smoke  that  filled  the  room  Somers  had  missed 
his  aim,  and  the  Texan  was  now  entirely  concealed 
from  him. 

"  Leave  the  house  !  "  shouted  Somers. 

"Not  till  I  git  my  whiskey,  if  I  knows  it.  I  hain't 
killed  the  old  man  ;  didn't  mean  to  kill  him  ;  only  skeer 
him  a  little.  May  be  you  mought  be  willing  to  fotch  on 
the  whiskey  now,  squire." 

''  I  have  none,  as  I  told  you  before,"  replied  Mr.  Cal- 
licot,  who,  finding  he  was  not  wounded,  had,  under  cover 
of  smoke,  taken  down  the  rifle  from  the  beckets  on  the 
wall.     ''  Now  you  will  leave  my  house." 

"  Come,  squire,  don't  be  techy,  but  fotch  on  the 
whiskey,"  said  Skinley,  evidently  not  pleased  with  the 
new  aspect  of  affairs. 

"  Leave  my  house  !  "  replied  the  old  man,  with  dignity. 

Skinley,  finding  that  it  was  of  no  use  to  argue  the 
point,  slowly  backed  out  at  the  door  by  which  he  had 
entered. 

"  Shoot  him,  Somers,"  said  he. 

"  You  deserve  to  be  shot  yourself  for  this  outrage," 
added  Somers,  indignantly. 

"  That  ain't  handsome,  Somers.  But  we  can't  stop 
no  longer,"  continued  the  Texan,  as  he  left  the  house, 
and  walked  towards  his  horse. 

"  Begone,  or  you  are  a  dead  man,"  said  Mr.  Callicot 
to  Somers,  who  still  remained  in  the  room. 


226  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  You  mistake  me,  sir,"  returned  Somers  ;  "  I  am  a 
friend,  and  not  an  enemy." 

"  Begone,  or  you  shall  die  !  "  repeated  the  eld  man, 
now  roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  indignation.  "  You 
fired  at  me  as  well  as  the  other  rufSan." 

"  I  fired  at  him." 

At  this  moment  the  door  by  which  the  o-«Tier  of  the 
house  had  first  entered  was  thrown  wide  open,  and 
Somers  discovered  Skinley,  who  had  gone  round  the 
house,  and  come  in  by  another  entrance.  The  wretch 
instantly  raised  his  rifle,  and  fired.  The  old  man  dropped 
heavily  on  the  floor,  and  his  daughter  uttered  a  scream 
of  agony,  as  she  threw  herself  on  his  body. 

"  That's  the  way  a  Texican  settles  yer  hash  !  "  shouted 
Skinley. 

Somers,  who  had  returned  the  pistol  to  his  belt,  drew 
it  again,  and  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  door,  though  the 
smoke  prevented  him  from  seeing  the  form  of  Skinley. 
The  guerilla  rushed  out  of  the  house,  and  disappeared. 
Somers  followed  him,  determined  not  to  be  balked  this 
time.  Unfortunately,  he  turned  to  the  left,  while  the 
Texan  went  to  the  right ;  and  when  he  had  passed 
around  the  house  to  the  lane,  he  discovered  the  scoundrel, 
already  mounted,  and  spurring  his  horse  away  from  the 
scene. 

Somers  sprang  into  his  saddle,  and  started  in  pursuit. 
The  hour   had  come   to  avenge    the  old   man,   and   to 


Skmloy  the  Texan. 

Pacre  227- 


THE   FOBTUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  227 

discharge  the  duty  imposed  upon  him,  now  made  easy 
by  the  wretch's  crime.  He  urged  forward  his  good  horse 
to  the  utmost  of  his  speed,  and  gained  rapidly  upon  him. 
Skinley,  who  could  iusuU  a  woman,  and  shoot  an  old 
man,  had  a  wholesome  fear  of  his  pursuer ;  but  when  he 
found  that  Somers  was  gaining  upon  him,  he  unslung  his 
rifle,  and  while  his  horse  was  at  full  speed,  turned  and 
fired  at  his  late  companion.  The  bullet  did  not  come 
near  Somers,  who  still  urged  on  his  steed. 

Skinley,  for  some  reason  of  his  own,  perhaps  for  the 
purpose  of  putting  into  operation  some  method  of  dodging 
his  pursuer  which  he  had  learned  in  fighting  Indians,  or 
lassoing  cattle,  now  turned  into  an  open  field.  Whatever 
might  have  been  the  merits  of  the  scheme  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  it  was  fatal  to  him  in  the  present  instance  ; 
for,  while  the  Texan  was  proceeding  in  a  direction  at 
right  angles  with  the  road,  Somers  dashed  into  the  field, 
and  cut  him  off*,  by  taking  the  diagonal  of  the  square, 
while  Skinley  was  following  the  side.  Perhaps  he  had 
not  noticed  a  piece  of  low  ground,  partially  covered 
with  water,  which  compelled  him  to  give  Somers  this 
advantage. 

"  'Tain't  handsome,  Somers  ;  I  didn't  tech  you  !  " 
yelled  Skinley,  when  he  perceived  that  he  had  lost  the 
game. 

Somers  elevated  his  revolver,  and,  taking  careful. aim, 
fired.     The  wretch  threw  up  his  arms,  sprang  upward  in 


228  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

his  saddle,  and  dropped  to  the  ground,  while  his  horse 
dashed  on  at  increased  speed,  when  relieved  of  his  heavy 
burden. 

"  My  work  is  done,"  said  Somers,  as  he  drew  in  his 
panting  steed. 

Turning  his  horse,  he  rode  slowly  back  to  the  spot 
where  Skinley  had  fallen.  Dismounting,  he  bent  over 
the  body  to  ascertain  the  result  of  his  shot.  The  ball 
had  struck  the  Texan  in  the  side,  and  had  evidently 
passed  through  his  heart,  for  he  was  entirely  dead.  The 
old  man  was  avenged  ;  the  plot  of  the  guerillas,  so  far  as 
it  depended  upon  the  arrival  of  Sweetzer  and  his  force, 
was  defeated. 

Somers  took  from  the  corpse  of  the  guerilla  a  rifle,  three 
pistols,  and  a  long  knife.  There  was  something  projecting 
from  the  breast  pocket  of  his  coat  which  looked  like  a 
bundle  of  papers ;  and  the  young  officer,  ever  intent 
upon  procuring  information,  drew  it  forth.  He  was  not 
mistaken  ;  it  was  a  bundle  of  papers,  and  among  others 
there  was  a  note  from  Captain  Lynchman  to  Lieutenant 
Sweetzer ;  but  it  was  only  the  order  for  him  to  proceed 
forthwith  to  Tantallon  cross-roads.  Inasmuch  as  Skinley 
w^as  not  "  up  to  print,"  much  less  to  writing,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  papers  could  have  no  connection 
with  the  bearer ;  but  vSomers  was  too  much  im- 
pressed by  the  proximity  of  the  dead  man,  and  by 
the  necessity  of  prudence  in  his  present  condition,  to 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  229 

examine    them,  and    he    put    them    in    his    pocket    for 
future  inspection. 

Slinging  the  rifle  upon  his  back,  and  placing  the  other 
■weapons  in  his  belt,  he  mounted  his  horse.  As  he  was 
about  to  depart,  the  animal  which  had  been  ridden  by 
Skiulcy  came  walking  leisurely  up  the  field,  as  if  in 
search  of  his  lost  burden.  When  he  saw  Somers,  he 
went  up  to  him,  and  suffered  himself  to  be  captured. 
He  was  a  docile  creature,  and  had  been  well  trained 
by  his  late  master.  ^  Leading  the  horse,  he  returned 
to  the  house  of  Mr.  Callicot,  to  ascertain  the  fate 
of  that  gentleman,  and  report  the  result  of  the 
pursuit. 

He  found  the  house  in  commotion.  The  few  servants 
which  the  Union  man  had  been  able  to  retain  were  bus- 
tling about  the  house,  but,  as  is  apt  to  be  tlie  case  in  a 
panic,  doing  absolutely  nothing.  Somers  gave  the  horses 
into  the  keeping  of  an  old  negro  man,  and  having  de- 
posited the  guerilla's  weapons  m  the  back  room,  entered 
the  house.  He  found,  by  the  direction  which  the  servants 
took,  where  the  dead  or  wounded  man  lay ;  for  he  had 
not  waited  to  learn  his  fate  before  he  went  in  pursuit  of 
the  wretch  who  had  done  the  deed. 

He  entered  the  apartment,  and  was  glad  to  find  that 

his  worst  fears  had  not  been  realized.     Mr.  Callicot  was 

not  dead,  but  he  appeared  to  be  severely  wounded.     His 

eyes  were  open,  and  he  was  gazing,  with  a  languid  look 

20 


230  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

of  affection,  at  his  daughter,  who  was  bending  over 
the   bed. 

"  There's  one  of  them,"  he  faintly  articulated,  as 
Somers    entered   the    room. 

"  I  am  not  one  of  them,  Mr.  Callicot ;  on  the  con- 
trary, I  am  an  officer  of  the  Union  army,  on  the  staff  of 
the  major  general  commanding  the  eleventh  and  twelfth 
corps." 

"  Impossible  !  "  groaned  the  sufferer. 

"  More  than  this,  I  have  shot  the  villain  who  fired  at 
you,"  continued  Somers. 

*'  He  certainly  took  no  part  with  the  other  man, 
father,"  interposed  the  daughter ;  "  and  I  heard  him 
order  his  companion  to  leave  the  house." 

''  If  you  are  still  in  doubt,  you  will  find  the  villain's 
horse  in  your  stable,  and  all  his  weapons  in  your  back 
room." 

"  Go  and  see,  Sophia,"  said  the  old  man  ;  "  for  we 
know  not  whom  to  trust." 

Somers  conducted  the  lady  to  the  back  room,  and  ex- 
hibited the  weapons  ;  then  to  the  stable,  where  the  negro 
had  taken  the  horse. 

"  If  you  are  not  satisfied.  Miss  Callicot,  you  may  send 
one  of  your  servants  to  a  field  on  the  left  of  the  road, 
about  half  a  mile  from  here,  and  he  will  find  the  body 
of  the  guerilla,  —  for  such  he  Avas." 

'•  I  am  satisfied,  sir ;  for  I  noticed  the  horse  when  the 


THE    FORTUfK^ES    OF    A     STAFF   OFFICER.^,         231 

man  rode  into  the  yard,"  replied  the  lady.  "  Why  did 
you  not  protect  us?" 

"  I  fired  at  the  scoundrel  a  moment  after  he  discharged 
his  pistol  at  your  father  the  first  time  ;  but  the  smoke  in 
the  room  spoiled  my  aim,  and  I  missed  him.  I  also 
fired  at  him  when  your  father  fell,  as  you  must  have 
noticed." 

"  I  heard  two  shots,  but  I  did  not  know  who  fired 
them." 

"  I  supposed  he  had  gone  when  he  left  the  house  ;  but 
it  seems  he  went  round,  and  entered  again  by  another 
door.     I  did  not  think  the  rufiian  was  base  enoudi  to  kill 

O 

an  old  man  like  your  father,  or  I  Avould  have  shot  him 
in  the  first  place.  I  did  not  wish  to  do  so  in  your 
presence." 

"  I  Avish  you  had." 

"  Is  your  father  badly  wounded?  " 

"  I  don't  know  how  bad  it  is  ;  he  was  struck  in  the 
shoulder.  I  have  trembled  every  day  for  fear  of  these 
guerillas  ;  but  when  they  come  with  an  officer,  my  father's 
paper  always  saves  us  from  harm." 

"  Have  you  sent  for  a  surgeon?"  asked  Somers. 

"  AVe  have  no  horse  at  home,  and  the  surgeon  lives 
five  miles  from  us." 

"  Take  the  dead  man's  horse." 

"  Thank  you  ;  I  will  send  a  man  at  once,"  replied 
Miss  Callicot. 


232  FT  GET IX  O   JOE^    OR 

A  boy  was  immediately  despatched  on  Skinley's  horse 
for  a  doctor,  and  Soraers  went  with  the  lady  to  the  room 
of  her  father.  The  young  officer  examined  the  woimd, 
and  ventured  to  assure  the  sufferer  that  it  was  not  a  dan- 
gerous one.  When  wounded  himself,  he  had  seen  the 
surgeons  operate,  and  he  had  some  idea  of  the  methods 
employed.  The  old  man  was  bleeding  freely ;  and  by 
changing  his  position  on  the  bed,  and  by  pressing  a 
napkin  around  the  wound,  he  checked  the  flow  of 
blood. 

It  was  three  hours  before  the  surgeon  arrived.  He  was 
a  personal  friend  of  the  Union  man,  and  came  with  all 
haste  as  soon  as  the  boy  found  him.  The  doctor  came, 
but  the  messenger  did  not  return  ;  and  Somers  concluded 
that  the  horse  had  been  seen  and  recognized  by  some  of 
the  guerillas.  The  young  officer  was  greatly  perplexed 
in  regard  to  his  future  movements  ;  and  though  Miss 
Callicot  offered,  and  pressed  upon  him,  the  hospitalities  of 
the  house,  he  decided  to  depart  as  soon  as  the  doctor  had 
assured  him  that  the  wound  was  not  dang^erous.  Leaving 
at  the  house  the  guerilla's  weapons,  which  he  advised 
the  lady  to  conceal,  he  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode 
away ;  but  what  to  do,  or  where  to  go,  he  was  at  a 
loss  to  determine.  All  he  wanted  now  was,  to  find  De 
Banyan,  and  hasten  to  the  headquarters  of  his  general. 

The  attack  upon  the  pay-master's  escort  was  to  be 
made  at  Tantallon  cross-roads,  or  in  that  direction  ;  but 


THE   FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  233 

• 

it  was  not  prudent  for  him  to  be  seen  near  that  locality, 
after  -what  had  happened,  and  he  decided  to  return  to 
the  nearest  military  post  on  the  railroad.  After  riding 
a  couple  of  miles,  as  he  turned  a  bend  in  the  road, 
on  the  verge  of  a  wood,  he  suddenly  came  upon 
Lynchman's  force,  which  had  halted  there. 
20* 


234  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


THE    GREENBACK   TRAIN. 


.  -_'HE  guerillas  and  their  horses  stood  so  still  in  the 
g'l  road  that  Somers  had  not  suspected  their  pres- 
^^_[y  ence.  His  first  impulse  was  to  wheel  his  horse, 
and  flee  with  all  speed  from  this  dangerous  ground.  The 
fact  that  the  negro  boy,  who  had  been  sent  for  the  doc- 
tor, had  not  returned,  was  pretty  good  evidence  that  he 
had  been  captured  by  the  guerillas  ;  and  their  presence 
in  this  place  fully  confirmed  his  fears. 

To  turn  and  run  away  would  be  sure  to  bring  a  volley 
from  their  carbines  upon  him,  and  to  advance  was  to 
throw  himself  into  the  very  jaws  of  the  lion  ;  but,  on 
the  whole,  he  decided  that  it  was  less  perilous  to  go  for- 
ward, and  he  continued  on  his  way,  as  though  no  shock 
had  come  over.  him.  The  negro  who  had  been  captured 
had  probably  told  his  story,  and  it  would  be  a  very  difii- 
cult  matter  to  reconcile  the  conflicting  statements  that 
must  ensue. 

"Why  are  you  here,  Somers?"  demanded  Captain 
Lynchman,  in  an  excited  tone. 


THE   FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  235 

"  Yankee  cavalry,"  replied  Somers,  glancing  sus- 
piciously  behind   Lira. 

"Where?" 

*'  I  don't  know  where  they  are  now.  Skinley  was 
shot  by  a  Yankee  and  killed." 

*•  Tliis  is  bad  business,"  said  Lynchman. 

"  No,  it  isn't ;  it  is  all  the  better  for  us,"  said  De 
Banyan,  stepping  forward  to  the  rescue. 

*'  Perhaps  it  is,  but  I  don't  see  it,"  added  the  captain  ; 
and  truly  it  must  have  been  rather  difficult  for  him 
to  see. 

'^  You  are  duller  than  usual,  captain,"  continued  De 
Banyan,  with  his  easy  assurance.  "  You  believe  in 
strategy,  and  look  troubled  at  a  difficulty  like  this?'* 

"Did  you  give  Skiuley's  horse  to  that  nigger?"  de- 
manded Lynchman. 

*'  Bah  !  "  exclaimed  De  Banyan,  with  hearty  disgust. 
*'  What  matter  whether  he  did  or  not?  Are  you  going 
to  settle  a  case  of  that  sort  now?  I  tell  you  it  is  all 
right." 

"What  shall  we  do?" 

"Do?"  sneered  the  major.  "We  will  capture  the 
pay-master  at  Tantallon  cross-roads,  as  we  intended. 
AVe  are  not  going  to  be  thrown  off  the  track  by  a  little 
accident  of  this  kind." 

"  Of  course  not,"  replied  the  guerilla,  catching  the 
inspiration  of  his  apparently  bolder  companion. 


236  FIGHTLSG    JOE,    OR 

."  Leave  these  Yankees  to  me,"  continued  De  Banyan. 
"  I  will  have  them  ten  miles  from  here  Avithin  two 
hours." 

"  Good  !  "  murmured  several  of  the  guerillas. 

"  The  greenhack  train  has  been  delayed,  and  we  shall 
have  time  to  bring  up  Sweetzer  yet.  I  want  two  men  to 
go  with  me.     I  will  take  Tippy  and  Somers." 

"  What  do  you  want  of  them?  "  demanded  Lynchman. 

"  Somers  shall  go  to  Eaybold's  for  our  fellows  there, 
and  Tippy  shall  return  to  inform  you  when  to  come  for- 
ward. If  you  should  be  seen,  it  would  spoil  the  whole 
thing." 

The  guerilla  chief  consented  to  this  plan  ;  and  De 
Banyan,  followed  by  Somers  and  Tippy,  rode  off  at  full 
gallop.  The  major  did  not  seem  to  be  conscious  that  he 
had  very  cleverly  performed  the  part  he  had  assumed 
in  the  drama.  He  looked  just  as  determined  as  though 
he  intended  to  carry  out  the  programme  assigned  to  him 
by  Lynchman. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do,  major?  "  asked  Somers, 
when  they  had  ridden  about  half  a  mile. 

"■  The  infernal  cutthroats  !  "  exclaimed  he,  savagely. 
"  I'm  going  to  capture  the  Avhole  crowd." 

"  But  you  have  no  force." 

"■  I'll  have  one.     Tippy  !  "  said  he,  with  energy. 

"  Sir,"  replied  the  scout,  with  the  utmost  deference 
and  respect. 


THE    FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  237 

"  Understand  my  purpose.  I  am  going  to  the  stockade 
where  the  pay-master  and  his  escort  are,  and  where  I  re- 
quested him  to  remain  until  he  heard  from  me." 

'*  Have  you  seen  him?"  asked  Somers. 

"  I  have  ;  he  has  sent  to  the  next  post  for  more  men. 
They  must  have  reached  him  by  this  time.  Now,  Som- 
ers, if  we  are  smart,  we  will  report  to  the  general  before 
iiiL:;lit  witli  the  pay-master,  and  these  guerillas  as  pris- 
oners. AVe  have  got  things  now  where  we  can  have  it 
our  own  way,  and  it  will  be  our  fault  if  we  don't  bag  the 
whole  squad." 

*'  If  the  pay-master  has  a  hundred  men,  we  can  take 
them  at  once,"  said  Somers. 

"  I  propose  to  haul  in  the  whole  company  —  those  at 
Raybold's  as  well  as  those  with  Lynchman.  "We  have 
no  time  to  lose,"  continued  the  major,  with  increased 
energy.  "  Somers,  you  must  go  to  Raybold's,  and  de- 
liver the  message  given  you  by  the  captain." 

*'  I'm  willing,"  replied  Somers,  taking  from  his  pocket 
the  papers  he  had  removed  from  the  body  of  Skinley. 
''  I  have  the  captain's  written  order  in  my  hand." 

*'  Good  !  Kill  your  horse,  if  necessary ;  but  don't 
lose  an  instant  of  time.     Away  with  you !  " 

*'  But  I  don't  know  the  road." 

De  Banyan  instructed  him  very  carefully  in  regard  to 
his  route. 

"  When  you  have  delivered  the  order,  look  out  for 


238  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

yourself,"  he  added,  as  Somers  put  spurs  to  his  willing 
horse,  and  dashed  away  to  execute  his  important  mission. 

"  Now,  Tippy,  in  one  hour  go  and  tell  Lynchman  that 
the  road  is  open  for  him,"  added  De  Banyan,  as  he  took 
the  hand  of  the  young  scbut,  which  he  pressed  with 
warmth.  "  Boy,  be  true  to  your  country  and  your  flag 
from  this  time  henceforth  and  forever  !  " 

"  I  will,  I  will !  "  exclaimed  Tippy,  with  deep  feeling, 
as  he  wiped  away  the  tears,  which,  for  some  unexplained 
reason,  filled  his  eyes. 

De  Banyan,  apparently  as  deeply  moved  as  the  young 
man,  galloped  away  at  a  furious  pace.  Beyond  the 
wood  he  turned  to  the  left,  crossing  the  creek  and  the 
railroad,  till  he  reached  another  road.  This  point  was 
Tantallon  cross-roads ;  and  here  he  turned  to,  the  left 
again,  and  was  now  moving  directly  towards  the  stock- 
ade in  which  he  had  left  the  pay-master,  and  where  he 
arrived  in  an  hour  from  the  time  he  started.  In  fifteen 
minutes  more  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  collected  during 
the  forenoon  from  the  military  posts  in  the  vicinity,  was 
moving  down  towards  the  cross-roads.  . 

"When  the  force  arrived  at  its  destination,  one  half  of 
it  was  posted  in  a  secure  place  by  the  railroad,  where  it 
could  not  be  seen  by  the  guerillas  as  they  advanced  to 
the  rendezvous,  and  the  other  half  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
cross-roads.  Quite  as  soon  as  they  were  expected  the 
little  troop  of  Lynchman  crossed  the  railroad,  and  moved 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  239 

cautiously  towards  the  point  at  which  they  expected  to 
meet  the  "  greenback  train."  But  no  sooner  had  they 
passed  the  railroad,  than  the  force  in  their  rear  took  the 
road  and  cut  olf  their  retreat,  while  that  in  front  ad- 
vanced upon  them.  For  a  moment  there  was  a  clash  of 
arnis  ;  but  the  guerillas  were  borne  under  and  captured 
by  the  cavalry  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  and  almost 
without  a  scratch  on  either  side. 

The  prisoners  were  conducted  to  a  safe  place,  and  the 
cavalry  again  disposed  for  the  reception  of  the  larger 
force  expected  from  Raybold's.  The  guerillas  were 
intensely  astonished  at  the  sudden  and  unexpected  result 
of  the  enterprise.  Captain  Lynchmau,  who  believed  in 
strategy,  looked  exceedingly  foolish  and  disconsolate. 
AVhen  the  prisoners  were  halted  in  a  secure  position  he 
happened  to  see  De  Banyan. 

"How's  this?"  said  he,  appealing  to  the  energetic 
major. 

"How's  what?"  asked  De  Banyan,  with  admirable 
simplicity. 

"  You  have  made  a  blunder  somewhere,"  added 
Lynchman,    sheepishly. 

"  Not  at  all.  Everything  has  come  out  just  as  I 
intended  it  should." 

"  Then  you  are  a  traitor." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  am  a  true  Union  man.  I  go 
for  the  Union  first,  and  Tennessee  next." 


240  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  Traitor  !  "  growled  the  guerilla. 

"  See  here,  my  man;  you  believe  in  strategy — don't 

you?" 

"  I  do." 

"  So  do  I,"  replied  De  Banyan.  ''  I  think  you  have 
got  strategy  enough  to  last  you  till  the  end  of  the  "war." 

"  You  deceived  me,  then,"  added  Lynchman,  bitterly. 

*'  Deceived  you  !  "  sneered  the  major.  "  Did  you 
think  I  would  throw  myself  into  your  arms,  and  let  you 
butcher  me  at  your  own  pleasure.  I  know  M'hat  you 
guerillas  are  —  gorillas,  I  had  better  say.  Deceived 
you  !  I  shouldn't  want  a  more  stupid  fellow  than  you 
are  to  work  upon.  You  have  played  into  my  hand  all 
the  way  through." 

"  What  is  to  be  done  with  us?  "  asked  the  discomfited 
chief,  tamely. 

"  I  don't  know.  "We  shall  march  you  to  headquarters  ; 
but  as  a  man  of  your  importance  ought  to  have  a  bigger 
escort  than  this,  we  shall  add  the  rest  of  your  gang  to 
the  train." 

De  Banyan  walked  away,  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode 
down  to  the  cross-roads  again,  where  the  greater  battle 
was  soon  to  be  fought.  Tippy,  the  scout,  who  had  dis- 
engaged himself  from  his  companions  at  the  beginning 
of  the  affray,  was  directed  to  keep  at  a  distance  from  the 
strife. 

Somers  delivered  his  message  to   Sweetzer,  and  the 


THE   FOETUSES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  241 

guerillas  immediately  leaped  iuto  iheir  saddles.  The 
note  from  Lynclimau  relieved  the  bearer  from  all  sus- 
picion, and  the  lieutenant  only  questioned  him  in  regard 
to  the  nature  of  the  operations  in  which  his  force  was  to 
engage.  Somers  answered  as  suited  himself;  and,  find- 
ing that  no  further  notice  was  taken  of  him,  the  officers 
and  men  being  busily  occupied  in  preparing  for  their 
excursion,  he  contrived  to  detach  himself  from  their 
company.  Gaining  the  highway,  he  rode  at  a  leisure 
gait  till  he  was  out  of  their  sight,  when  he  quickened  his 
pace,  and  reached  the  cross-roads  in  advance  of  the 
guerillas.  He  Avas  warmly  welcomed  by  De  Banyan ; 
but  there  was  no  time  yet  for  long  stories,  though  both 
of  them  had  much  to  say. 

Sweetzer  and  his  men  crossed  the  railroad  without  a 
suspicion  that  they  were  plunging  into  a  fatal  trap,  till 
they  heard  the  clatter  of  horses'  feet  behind.  The 
cavalry  in  the  rear,  which  was  to  open  the  battle,  dashed 
upon  the  guerillas  with  a  round  of  Union  cheers.  But 
the  rebels  Avere  desperate  fellows.  They  had  been  plun- 
dering, murdering,  and  destroying,  without  mercy,  and 
the  fear  of  a  righteous  retribution  upon  their  heads 
nerved  them  to  the  most  determined  action,  and  they 
fought  like  demons. 

They  were  hardly  engaged  before  the  cavalry  in  front 
rushed  with  headlong  speed  upon  the  entrapped  foe.  It 
was  such  an  opportunity  as  the  poUcy  of  the  partisans 
21 


242  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

seldom  permitted  them  to  enjoy ;  and  the  Union  soldiers, 
with  a  hearty  relish  for  the  Avork,  went  into  the  fight 
with  an  enthusiasm  which  could  result  only  in  speedy 
victory.  Then  ensued  a  brief  but  tremendous  conflict, 
in  which  the  guerillas  were  thoroughly  and  completely 
routed.  There  was  an  awful  cutting  and  slashing  for  a 
few  minutes.  The  rebels  were  utterly  demolished ; 
they  broke,  and  attempted  to  flee  from  the  scene  of 
wrath  ;  but  not  many  of  them  escaped. 

"  The  work  is  done,"  said  Dc  Banyan,  as  he  joined 
Somers  at  the  close  of  the  conflict. 

"  And  well  done,"  added  Somers,  as  he  returned  his 
sword  to  its  scabbard.  "  I  think  the  general  will  be 
willing  to  excuse  our  delay  in  reporting." 

The  wounded  were  sent  back  to  the  military  post,  the 
prisoners  secured,  and  the  *'  greenback  train "  took  up 
its  line  of  march  for  the  army. 

On  the  way,  De  Banyan,  Somers,  and  Tippy  kept 
too-ether.  It  Avas  the  first  time  the  staff  oflicers  had 
found  an  opportunity  to  communicate  in  regard  to  the 
past.  Somers  knew  but  little  of  what  his  friend  had 
done ;  but  he  opened  the  way  for  an  explanation  by 
relating  his  own   adventures  with  Skinley. 

"  I  supposed  you  would  shoot  him  the  moment  you 
got  him  out  of  sight  of  his  cutthroat  companions,"  said 
the  major. 

"  I  couldn't  shoot  him  down  in  cold  blood.    I  intended 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  243 

to  use  ca  little  strategy,  when  the  right  time  came," 
replied  Somers. 

"  You  are  too  sentimental  by  half.  If  he  had  been  a 
soldier  and  a  decent  man,  you  might  have  hesitated.  Ho 
was  nothing  but  a  cold-blooded  wretch,  a  cutthroat ; 
you  ought  to  have  shot  him  without  winking  twice.  I 
would  have  done  it." 

''  I  couldn't  do  it.  But,  De  Banyan,  what  have  you 
been  doing?  " 

The  major  minutely  detailed  his  operations  during  the 
morning.  He  had  been  to  the  pay-master,  proved  that 
he  was  a  Union  man,  on  the  staff  of  a  general,  and  ex- 
posed the  plot  of  the  guerillas.  Returning  to  them,  he 
had  arrived  just  before  the  capture  of  the  negro  boy.  on 
the  Skinley  horse,  and  had  contrived  to  make  the  fellow 
say  what  he  desired,  in  part,  and  to  neutralize  what 
tended  to  inculpate  Somers. 

'•  One  question,  major,"  said  Somers,  when  De  Banyan 
finished  :  "  Who  is  Tippy  ?  " 

"  He  is  my  son." 


244  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    BATTLE    IN   THE    CLOUDS. 

OMERS  had  been  greatly  mystified  by  the  sin- 
gular conduct  of  Tippy,  the  scout,  and  quite  as 
much  so  by  that  of  De  Bany&,n  in  connection 
with  the  young  man.  He  remembered  to  have  heard  the 
major  say,  when  they  parted,  after  the  eventful  campaign 
before  Richmond,  that  he  had  a  son  ;  and  it  now  ap- 
peared that  he  had  been  in  the  rebel  service,  while  his 
father  was  actively  engaged  on  the  other  side. 

Before  the  war  Tippy  had  been  the  confidential  friend 
and  companion  of  his  father  to  an  extent  to  which  par- 
ents seldom,  admit  their  sons.  He  was  an  only  child, 
and  between  them  there  had  been  a  bond  of  sympathy, 
which  nothing  but  the  total  breaking  up  of  all  social 
relations  could  affect.  The  father  had  been  compelled 
to  enter  the  rebel  army  sorely  against  his  will,  and  at 
the  first  opportunity  had  put  himself  on  the  right  side. 
In  doing  so  he  had  been  separated  from  his  family, 
hoping,  however,  to  meet  his  wife  and  son  again  in  a 
few  months  at  farthest.      He  had  been  grievously  dis- 


THE    FOn TUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICE n. 


245 


appointed  ia  this  respect,  for  the  sweep  of  the  Union 
army  had  not  been  so  speedy  and  decicied  as  he  had  an- 
ticipated ;  and  he  had  been  obliged,  by  the  force  of  cir- 
cumstances, to  leave  the  West  and  go  to  the  East. 

During  his  absence  his  wife  had  died ;  and  the  son, 
inheriting  the  talent  of  his  father,  had  taken  service  in 
the  rebel"  ranks,  where  his  ability  as   a  scout  was  soon 
discovered.     When  he  saw  his  father,  he  had  no  will  of 
his  own  ;  whatever  the  parent  was,  he  was.     Like  thou- 
sands of  others  who  fought  on  the  side  of  rebellion,  he 
had  no  principle  in  the  matter,  and  only  went  with  the 
crowd.     He  was  now   happily   restored  to  his  devoted 
parent,  and  fully  believed  that  whatever  cause  his  father 
espoused  must  be  the  right  one.     The  boy's  middle  name 
was  Tipton,  after  a  Tennessee  politician,  who  happened 
to  be  in  the  ascendant  at  the  time  of  his  birth  ;  and  from 
this  was  derived  the  pet  appellation  by  which  he  was 
known  among  the  rebels  and  partisans. 

Somers  and  Tippy  were  immediately  the  best  of^ 
friends ;  and  during  the  day,  as  they  rode  along,  the 
young  Tennessean  asked  a  thousand  questions  about  the 
North,  about  the  home  and  the  associations  of  his  com- 
panion ;  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  he  profited  by  the 
information  imparted  in  the  answers  to  the  questions. 

Before  night,  as  De  Banyan  had  promised,  our  travel- 
lers had  the  pleasure  of  reporting  to   "  Fighting  Joe," 
at  Bridgeport,  and  of  receiving  a  hearty  welcome.     They 
21* 


246  FIGETIXG    JOE,    OR 

were  Avarmly  commcuded  for  the  ■work  they  had  done 
among  the  guerillas,  who  were  the  pest  of  the  state,  the 
continual  annoyance  of  the  army's  communications,  and 
a  nuisance  to  friend  and  foe  among  the  families  of  tlie 
region.  The  general  conversed  freely  with  Dc  Banyan 
and  Somers,  and  immediately  assigned  them  to  duty  in 
their  respective  positions. 

"  Somers,  my  dear  fellow,  I  greet  you  !  "  exclaimed 
Captain  Barkwood,  Avhen  they  met. 

"  Thank  you,  captain,"  replied  Somers,  warmly  grasp- 
ing the  proffered  hand  of  the  engineer. 

"  You  are  the  only  volunteer  I  have  met  Avho  was 
fit  to  be  a  regular." 

"  Fortunately,  I  am  one,"  added  Somers,  explaining 
his  position. 

"  I  congratulate  you.  I  hear  that  you  have  been 
fifjlitin*::   2:uerillas." 

"A  little." 

"  I  am  sorry  you  have  a  taste  for  those  small 
squabbles." 

"  I  have  not ;  I  only  go  into  them  from  necessity. 
But  our  fight  with  the  guerillas  was  a  splendid  piece  of 
strategy.     I  will  tell  you  about  it." 

Somers  told  him,  and  the  engineer  was  satisfied, 
thou2:li  he  declared  that  he  was  too  much  of  a  coward  to 
have  any  relish  for  hand-to-hand  encounters. 

""Well,    Captain   Barkwood,    how    is    the   general?" 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  247 

asked  Somers,  when  the  relative  merits  of  brain  and 
muscle 'had  been  duly  discussed. 

"  The  general  I  He  is  a  diamond  among  precious 
stones,"  replied  Barkwood,  -svith  enthusiasm.  "  If  he 
gets  a  chance  he  -svill  knock  the  backbone  out  of  the 
rebel  army  in  this  quarter.  By  the  way,  Somers,  I 
remember  the  general  when  he  was  in  Mexico." 

"  Were  you  there?" 

"  I  was." 

"  You  don't  look  old  enough." 

"  I'm  forty.     I  remember  him  at  Chapultepec." 

"  I  was  there,"  added  De  Banyan ;  ''  but  I  was  a 
private." 

''  He  fought  like  a  tiger  tliere,  as  he  did  everywhere, 
and  went  up  like  a  rocket  from  second  lieutenant  to 
lieutenant  colonel.  He  is  what  I  call  a  positive  man  ; 
he  does  his  own  thinking,  which,  unfortunately  for  him, 
perhaps,  in  some  instances,  does  not  agree  with  the 
thinking  of  others,  He  was  with  Pillow,  Rains,  and 
Ripley,  who  are  all  rebels  now." 

*'  But  the  general  left  the  army." 

"  Yes,  he  is  an  active  man ;  he  couldn't  stand  the 
piping  times  of  peace  that  followed  the  Mexican  war, 
and,  resigning  his  commission,  went  to  California,  where 
he  became  a  farmer.  This  didn't  agree  very  well  with 
his  constitution,  and  when  a  speck  of  war  appeared  in 
1861,  he  hastened  to  Washington  ;  not  as  an  adventurer, 


248  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

mind  you,  but  as  a  man  who  believed  in  the  American 
Union.  Somehow  the  men  in  authority  seemed  \o  have 
forgotten  about  his  conduct  in  Mexico  ;  and  it  may  be 
that  some  of  his  positive  opinions  were  remembered,  and 
he  did  not  readily  procure  service. 

"  Discouraged,  and  perhaps  disgusted,  with  his  ill 
success,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  return  to  his  farm  on 
the  Pacific.  Before  his  intended  departure  he  paid  his 
respects  to  President  Lincoln,  to  whom  he  made  some 
comments  on  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  which  induced  the 
president  to  make  him  a  brigadier.  That  was  the  luck- 
iest thing  for  the  general,  and  the  .luckiest  thing  for  the 
country,  that  ever  came  out  of  an  accident." 

"  That's  so  !  "  exclaimed  De  Banyan,  with  emphasis. 
"  I've  seen  him  in  a  great  many  fights ;  and  I  say  he 
has  no  superior  in  the  army." 

"  Pm  not  very  fond  of  comparisons  between  generals  ; 
but  I  can  say  I  like  him  better  than  any  other,"  added 
Somers.     "  I  wish  generals  were  not  so  sensitive." 

"Sensitive?  My  dear  Somers,  a  man  can  no  more 
be  a  great  general  without  being  sensitive,  than  he  can 
be  a  parson  without  being  pious." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  I  think  that  some  of  the  military 
operations  of  the  war  have  failed  because  the  command- 
ing general  in  charge  of  them  was  not  fairly  supported, 
owing  to  some  of  these  squabbles  about  rank." 

"  That's  true  ;  but  there's  a  great  diflference  between 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  249 

being  sensitive,  and  failing  to  obey  orders,  in  spirit  as 
■well  as  to  the  letter.  '  Fighting  Joe '  never  did  and 
never  "vvill  allow  his  sensitiveness  to  endanger  for  one 
moment  the  success  of  our  arms,'.'  said  the  engineer, 
"vvarmly.  ''  He  would  fight  under  a  corporal  rather  than 
lose  the  day,  any  time." 

"  I  know  that,"  answered  Somers  ;  *'  but  I  can't  help 
feeling  that  if  some  generals  had  been  less  sensitive,  our 
general  would  have  been  in  command  of  a  large  army 
to-day." 

"  A  positive  man  speaks  what  he  thinks  ;  and  I  doubt 
not  *  Fighting  Joe '  has  often  offended  his  superiors  by 
his  candid  criticisms.  This  may  have  aifected  his  po- 
sition, but  it  cannot  rob  him  of  the  glory  of  the  past. 
AVhatever  he  does,  and  wherever  he  goes,  I'm  with  him 
to  the  end,"  added  the  enirineer. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  De  Banyan. 

"  There  will  be  something  done  in  this  department 
very  soon,"  continued  Barkwood.  "  The  heavy  storms 
have  rendered  the  roads  almost  impassable  ;  and  the  pro- 
visions for  the  army  in  Chattanooga  have  to  be  conveyed 
in  wagons  about  fifty  miles.  The  first  move  will  be  to 
open  the  river  and  the  railroad  between  this  point  and 
Chattanooga." 

The  engineer  was  correct  in  his  supposition,  for  a  few 
days  later  General  Hazen's  brigade  descended  the  Ten- 
nessee in  pontoon  boats,  intended  for  the  erection  of  a 


250  ^IGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

bridge  over  the  river  at  Brown's  Ferry,  running  the  rebel 
batteries  in  the  night,  and  reaching  their  destination  in 
safety.  The  Confederate  force  under  General  Bragg 
was  posted  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  holding  the 
heights  known  as  Raccoon  Mountain,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, and  Missionary  Ridge.  Batteries  had  been  planted 
on  these  heights,  which  swept  the  river  and  the  valleys  ; 
and  the  operation  of  dislodging  the  enemy  from  their 
stronj>holds  was  a  difficult  and  dansrerous  one. 

A  pontoon  bridge   nine  hundred  feet  in  length  was 

tibuilt  on  the  river  at  Brown's  Ferry  in  five  hours,  a 
force  having  been  first  sent  over  the  river,  and  a  po- 
sition captured  and  fortified  to  protect  the  operation. 
The  eleventh  and  twelfth  corps  then  moved  out  from 
Bridgeport,  and  completed  the  communication  between 
that  place  and  the  pontoon  bridge,  thus  effecting  a  junc- 
tion with  the  army  in  Chattanooga.  A  steamboat,  built 
by  a  company  of  engineers,  and  another  captured  from 
the  enemy,  conveyed  provision,  one  above  and  the  other 
below  the  pontoon  bridge,  to  the  beleaguered  town. 
This  vital  question  being  settled,  the  place  was  fortified 
so  that  it  could  be  held  by  a  small  fdrce  ;  and  the  main 
army  then  commenced  the  work  of  relieving  East  Ten- 
nessee from  the  presence  of  the  rebels,  which  was  fully 
accomplished  in  spite  of  the  active  movement  of  the  en- 

'-emy  to  prevent  it. 

Our  volume  is  not  a  history^  and  we  do  not  purpose  to 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  251 

narrate  in  detail  the  movements  of  the  three  armies, 
-which  had  been  united  under  General  Grant.  The  rebels 
were  Avhipped  in  every  direction,  foiled  and  defeated  in 
all  their  plans,  and  tlie  Union  army  continued  on  its 
march  to  Atlanta.  "  Fighting  Joe  "  bore  an  important 
part  in  these  operations,  and  was  conspicuous  at  Lookout 
Mountain,  Resaca,  and  before  Atlanta.  He  was  skilful 
and  brave,  energetic  and  devoted  in  this  campaign,  as  he 
had  been  before.  He  was  faithful  to  his  duty,  until,  on 
the  death  of  General  McPherson,  he  was  compelled  to 
ask  to  be  relieved.  With  this  summary  of  the  events  at 
the  seat  of  war  in  the  South,  we  return  to  Captain 
Somers. 

The  general's  command,  having  opened  the  communi- 
cation with  Chattanooga,  marched  up  Lookout  Valley. 
"  Fighting  Joe  "  was  there  for  a  purpose.  The  rugged 
steeps  of  the  mountain  bristled  with  rebel  cannon,  and 
his  army  was  exposed  to  a  sharp  fire  as  it  moved  on  its 
way.  The  general  was  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  assured 
the  troops  that  the  fire  could  not  harm  them.  His  con- 
duct had  the  most  inspiring  effect  upon  the  men. 

When  the  head  of  the  column  approached  the  vicinity 
of  the  railroad  bridge,  near  Wauhatchie,  the  rebel  in- 
fantry opened  upon  it,  being  posted  in  a  dense  forest, 
where  their  number  could  not  be  determined.    A  bri'^1de 

c 

was  thrown  out  to  flank  the  position,  upon  which  the  en- 
emy precipitately  fled  over  the  creek,  burning  the  bridge 


252  FIGHTING   JOE.    OR 

behind  them.  The  column  moved  on,  and  halted  for  the 
night  in  the  valley. 

At  midnight  General  Geary's  division  was  savagely 
attacked,  and  presently  the  gloom  of  the  valley  was 
lighted  up  by  the  flame  of  battle ;  cannon  and  musketry 
blazed  from  the  summits  of  the  mountain,  but  the  men 
fought  with  the  most  determined  zeal.  The  general  was 
in  his  saddle,  and  his  staff  were  hurled  away  like  arrows 
from  a  bow,  to  strengthen  the  weak  parts  of  the  line. 
A  brigade  was  despatched  to  the  assistance  of  Geary, 
who  was  hard  pressed ;  but  the  attack  was  promptly 
repelled. 

Somers  was  then  sent  off  with  an  order  to  the  second 
brigade  to  storm  the  heights  and  carry  them ;  and  he 
was  directed  to  accompany  the  force  and  report  progress 
to  the  general.  The  hill  was  very  steep  and  rugged, 
and  in  many  places  the  rocks  presented  the  appearance 
of  palisades.  It  was  covered  with  Avood  and  under- 
brush, and  it  would  not  have  been  an  easy  thing  to 
climb  it  with  a  guide  in  broad  daylight ;  but  the  general 
had  sent  these  intrepid  fellows  to  scale  its  jagged  steeps 
in  the  middle  of  the  night.  It  was  cloudy,  and  the  moon 
shed  an  uncertain  light  on  the  scene. 

To  Somers  there  was  a  savor  of  home  in  the  enterprise, 
for  the  thirty-third  Massachusetts  was  one  of  the  two 
regiments  which  formed  the  advance  in  this  perilous 
movement ;  the  other  was  the  seventy-third  Ohio,  both 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  253 

• 

numbering  only  four  hundred  men.  On  dashed  the  in- 
trepid soldiers,  climbing  up  the  dangerous  steeps,  as 
though  all  of  them  had  been  mountaineers  —  on,  till 
they  penetrated  the  clouds,  Avhile  the  gloom  was  lighted 
up  by  the  glare  of  the  sheets  of  flame  from  two  thousand 
rebel  muskets.  There  in  the  clouds,  at  midnight,  was 
fought  and  won  this  remarkable  battle.  The  crests  of 
the  hills  were  carried  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and 
the  gallant  thirty-third  left  one  third  of  its  number  killed 
and  wounded  on  the  ground ;  but  the  victory  was  com- 
plete, and  Captain  Somers  hastened  to  report  the  result 
to  the  general. 

22 


254  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER     XXIV. 


PEACH-TREE    CREEK. 


URING  the  night  all  the  rebels  evacuated 
Lookout  Mountain,  and  retreated  upon  the 
main  army,  posted  at  the  eastward  of  them. 
The  storming  of  the  heights  was  part  of  the 
great  battle  of  Chattanooga,  directed  by  General  Grant 
with  the  most  consummate  skill,  and  carried  out  by  his 
subordinates  with  a  zeal  and  energy  Avhicli  insured  a 
great  and  decisive  victory.  Chattanooga  was  ours ; 
East  Tennessee  was  purged  of  the  rebels  who  had  been 
persecuting  the  devoted  loyalists  from  the  beginning  of 
the  war ;  and  with  these  events  substantially  closed  the 
campaign  of  1863. 

Our  limited  space  compels  us  to  pass  over  the  time 
from  this  period  to  the  July  of  the  next  year.  Somers 
and  De  Banyan  still  held  their  positions  on  the  staff  of 
the  general,  spending  the  winter  in  the  vicinity  of  Chat- 
tanooga. There  were  a  great  many  letters  passed 
between  the  young  captain  and  his  friends,  and  all  of 
them    from    him    were    not   directed    to    Pinchbrook. 


TEE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  255 

Between  himself  and  Lilian  a  most  excellent  under- 
standing still  subsisted. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army,,  which  followed  the 
well-deserved  promotion  of  Grant  to  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant general,  *'  Fighting  Joe  "  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  twentieth  corps  ;  and  in  Sherman's  bloody  and 
decisive  advance  to  Atlanta,  he  was  one  of  the  ceptral 
figures  in  the  picture.  He  was  the  idol  of  his  corps,  as 
he  had  been  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  His  men 
loved  and  trusted  him,  and  he  never  disappointed  them. 
He  was  always  in  the  thickest  of  the  danger,  to  support 
and  to  cheer  them. 

Everything  went  wrong  with  the  rebels.  Johnston, 
beaten  and  flanked  time  and  again,  fell  back,  until 
Atlanta,  the  objective  point  of  Sherman,  was  reached, 
Avhere  he  was  superseded  by  Hood,  who  was  eminently  a 
fighting  man,  and  was  expected  to  retrieve  the  failing 
fortunes  of  the  Confederacy.  On  the  20th  of  July  was 
fought  the  battle  of  Peach-Tree  Creek,  which  was  a 
desperate  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  newly-appointed 
rebel  commander  to  redeem  the  disasters  of  the  past. 
The  attack  was  made  against  a  weak  place  in  the  line, 
where  there  was  a  large  gap  between  the  divisions  of 
Geary  and  "Williams. 

Into  this  gap  Hood  hurled  his  compact  column  ;  who, 
inspired  with  a  hope  that  their  new  leader  would  turn 
the  tide  of  battle  setting  so  strongly  against  the  rebels, 


256  riGHTixo  JOE,  or 

fought  with  unwonted  desperation.  They  poured,  in 
solid  masses,  through  the  open  space,  and  fell  upon  the 
boys  of  the  twentieth  corps  with  fiendish  valor.  For  a 
moment  they  shook  —  but  "  Fighting  Joe  "  flashed  before 
them  like  a  meteor  ;  his  full  tones  were  heard  as  buoyant 
as  in  the  hour  of  victory,  and  the  soldiers  gathered  them- 
selves up  under  this  potent  inspiration,  and  bravely  faced 
the  impetuous  foe.  From  both  sides  of  the  gap,  into 
which  the  rebels  had  wedged  themselves,  deadly  volleys 
of  musketry  were  poured  in  upon  them.  They  were 
mowed  down  like  ripe  grain  before  the  scythe.  They 
bit  the  dust  in  hundreds  ;  but  the  survivors  maintained 
the  conflict. 

Still  the  commander  of  the  twentieth  corps  dashed 
along  the  line,  and  everywhere  restored  the  breaking 
column.  His  voice  was  a  charm  on  that  day,  and  more 
than  any  other  of  the  war  in  which  he  had  been  en- 
gaged, this  was  his  battle  ;  for,  with  his  voice,  his  eye, 
and  his  commanding  presence,  he  banished  panic,  and 
wrested  victory  from  the  arms  of  defeat.  The  assault 
was  triumphantly  repelled ;  and  doubtless  the  rebels 
believed  that  the  Fabian  policy  of  Johnston  was  pref- 
erable to  the  bloody  and  bootless  desperation  of  Hood. 

The  battle  was  won  ;  and  many  and  earnest  were  the 
conojratulations  exchanged  amono^  ofiicers  and  soldiers 
after  the  bloody  aflfair.  De  Banyan  and  Somers  had 
been  particularly  active,  not  only  in  bearing  orders,  but 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  257 

in  rallying  the  troops  ;  and  the  general  personally  thanked 
them  for  their  devotion  :  at  the  same  time  the  aid-de- 
canjp  was  directed  to  convey  information  of  the  result  to 
a  general  whose  position  might  be  affected  by  it. 

Somers  rode  off,  but  had  gone  only  a  short  distance 
befqre  his  friend  dashed  up  to  his  side,  and  pointed  out 
to  him  a  piece  of  woods  on  his  route,  where  a  squad  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been  seen,  and  entreated  him  to 
be  exceedingly  cautious. 

*^  I'm  always  cautious,  major,"  laughed  Somers. 

*'  I  know  you  are,  my  boy  ;  but  you  might  not  have 
known  there  was   any  danger  in  that  quarter." 

"  I  will  avoid  the  woods,  if  I  can." 

'•  You  can,  by  going  over  that  low  place  at  the  right 
of  the  creek,"  added  De  Banyan.  "  I  have  a  message  to 
deliver  in  that  direction  myself." 

They  rode  on,  and  parted  a  short  distance  from  the 
creek.  Somers  proceeded  to  his  destination,  and  having 
accomplished  his  mission,  started  on  the  return.  "When 
he  reached  the  point  nearest  to  the  creek,  his  attention 
was  attracted  by  a  riderless  horse,  feeding  on  the  shrubs 
that  covered  the  ground.  A  nearer  approach^  to  the 
animal  assured  him  it  was  De  Banyan's  h(Jrse  ;  and  his 
blood  froze  with  fear  as  he  considered  the  meaning  of 
this  circumstance.  His  friend  had  evidently  been  shot, 
and  had  fallen  from  his  horse ;  but  perhaps  he  was  not 
dead,  and  Somers  proceeded  to  search  for  the  major. 
22* 


258  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

As  he  rode  forward,  almost  overcome  by  the  sudden- 
ness of  the  shock  which  had  fallen  upon  him,  the  sharp 
crack  of  a  rifle  roused  him  from  his  meditation,  and  a 
bullet  whistled  uncomfortably  near  his  head.  He  drew 
his  revolver,  and  discovered  half  a  dozen  rebels  in  front 
of  him.  Wheeling  his  horse  on  the  instant,  he  attempted 
to  escape  in  the  opposite  direction.  This  act  drew  upon 
him  the  fire  of  the  party,  and  though  he  was  not  hit,  his 
horse  dropped  upon  the  ground,  shot  through  the  head. 
As  the  faithful  animal  fell,  the  leg  of  the  rider  became 
entangled  under  his  body,  and  he  was  held  fast. 

"How  are  you,  Blueback?"  said  one  of  the  reb- 
els, as  they  rushed  forward  and  seized  him,  disarming 
him  before  they  released  him  from  his  uncomfortable 
position. 

"How  are  you,  Grayback ?  "  replied  Somers,  calling 
his  philosophy  to  his  aid  iu  this  trying  moment. 

"  Is  yer  health  good,  Yank?" 

"  First  rate,  I  thank  you,  Reb,"  answered  Somers, 
as  he  disengaged  his  foot  from  the  stirrup  beneath  the 
horse.     "How's  yours?" 

"  I  cal'late  you  are  better  ter  keep  than  yer  are 
to  kill." 

"  That's  a  sensible  idea  on  your  part." 

"  May  be  it  is.  TVhat  yer  got  in  your  pockets, 
Yank?" 

"Not  much  ;  the  pay-master  hasn't  been  round  lately." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  259 

*'  Let's  see." 

"You  rebs  don't  take  greenbacks  —  do  youT"  asked 
Somers,  as  he  pulled  out  his  pocket-book. 

*'  I  bet  we  do  —  take  anything  we  can  get." 

'^  Well,  you  won't  get  much  out  of  me.  There's  my 
pocket-book ;  it's  rather  flat ;  an  elephant  stepped  on  it 
the  other  day." 

There  was  about  ten  dollars  in  legal  tender  currency 
and  fractional  bills  in  the  pocket-book,  which  the  rebels 
thankfully  accepted. 

"What  else  yer  got?"  demanded  the  spokesman  of 
the  squad. 

*'  What  else  do  you  want?  When  I  meet  a  friend  in 
distress,  I  like  to  do  the  handsome  thing  by  him." 

"  I  reckon  we're  in  distress,  and  we'll  take  anything 
yer  got  to  give.     Got  the  time  of  day  about  yer?" 

Somers  gave  up  his  silver  watch. 

"That's  everything  I  have  about  me  of  any  value," 
he  added,  hoping  these  sacrifices  would  satisfy  the 
rapacity  of  his  captors. 

"  Dunno,  Yank;  let's  see,"  added  the  rebel,  with  a 
grin.     "  Turn  out  yer  pockets." 

Somers  took  from  the  breast  pocket  of  his  coat  the 
Testament  Avhich  his  mother  had  given  him,  and  which 
had  been  his  constant  companion  in  all  his  campaigns. 
It  contained  several  pictures  of  the  loved  ones  at  home, 
including,  of  course,  one  of  Lilian  Ashford. 


260  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"You  don't  want  this?"  said  he,  as  he  pulled  the 
Testament,  wrapped  up  in  oiled  silk,  from  his  pocket, 
and  unrolled  it  before  them. 

"  I  cal'late  you  Yanks  don't  hev  no  use  for  this  book," 
replied  the  spokesman,  as  he  took  the  cherished  gift. 

"Won't  you  leave  me  that?"  asked  Somers.  "My 
mother  gave  it  to  me,  and  it  contains  the  photographs  of 
my  friends  at  home." 

"  Not  if  I  knows  it,  Yank,"  replied  the  man,  coarsely. 
"  This  is  a  warm  day  —  ain't  it,  Yank?" 

"  Rather  warm." 

"  May  be  that  coat's  too  hot  for  yer?  " 

"I  think  I  can  endure  it  very  well." 

' '  I'm  feered  it  will  make  yer  sick  if  yer  wear  it  any 
longer.  Jest  take  it  off,  Yank.  It  was  made  for  a 
better  man  'n  you  be." 

Somers  complied,  simply  because  resistance  was  vain. 

""What  number  of  boots  do  you  wear,  Yank?"  con- 
tinued the  rebel,  glancing  at  his  prisoner's  feet. 

"  Well,  I  generally  wear  two  of  them,"  replied  Somers, 
facetiously. 

"  I  reckon  yer  won't  wear  so  many  as  that  much 
longer.     Don't    yer   think  them  boots   would  fit  me?" 

"  I'm  afraid  they  are  too  small  for  you,"  said  Somers, 
disgusted  with  the  conduct  of  his  captors. 

"  I  reckon  they'll  jest  fit  me." 

"  Come,   Turkin,  quit  now.     I'll  be  dog-on'd  ef  we 


I 


THE   FOB  TUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  261 

don't  git  captered  ourselves,  ef  you  keep  on  parlatin'  with 
the  carri'n  any  longer.  Fotch  him  along,  and  we'll 
measure  the  boots  bimc-by." 

As  this  was  eminently  prudent  advice  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, Turkin  decided  to  follow  it.  One  of  the 
party  took  the  saddle  and  bridle  from  the  dead  animal, 
while  another  caught  De  Banyan's  horse.  The  unfortu- 
nate event  took  place  Avithia  fifty  rods  of  the  line  of  the 
twentieth  corps,  and  near  the  spot  where  the  recent 
battle  had  raged  fiercest.  The  ground  was  directly  in 
front  of  the  army,  and  it  was  an  unparalleled  piece  of 
impudence  for  the  rebels  to  come  so  near  on  such  an  ex- 
pedition. "With  the  exception  of  the  piece  of  woods,  the 
ground  was  open,  though  Somers  was  captured  behind  a 
ridge,  which  hid  the  marauders  from  the  view  of  the 
sentinels. 

"  Now,  Yank,  we'll  march,"  said  Turkin,  who,  though 
he  Avore  no  badge  of  his  rank,  appeared  to  be  the 
sergeant  or  corporal  commanding  the  squad.  "  Be 
you  ready  ?  " 

"  Weil,  no,  I'm  not  ready ;  but  as  you  fellows  have 
such  an  insinuating  way  with  you,  I  suppose  I  shall  have 
to  go,"  replied  Somers,  glancing  in  the  direction  of  the 
Union  line. 

"  You  guessed  about  right  that  time,  Yank.  'Tain't  no 
use  to  look  over  yender.  If  yer  don't  walk  right  along, 
jest  like  a  Christian,  I'd  jest  as  lief  shoot  yer  as  not." 


262  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  Don't  trouble  yourself,  Reb ;  I'm  with  you.  But 
I'm  not  much  used  to  walking  without  boots,  of  late 
years,  and  if  you  take  my  boots  I  may  make  hard  work 
of  it." 

"  No,  yer  won't ;  if  yer  do,  I'll  save  yer  the  trouble 
of  walking  any  further." 

"  No  trouble  at  all,"  added  Somers,  who,  in  spite  of 
his  apparently  easy  bearing,  was  in  momentary  fear  of 
being  shot  by  the  ruffians  in  charge  of  him. 

"What's  yer  name?"  demanded  Turkin,  abruptly, 
as  they  moved  towards  the  wood,  beyond  which  flowed 
Peach-tree  Creek. 

"  Thomas  Somers." 

"  What  d'yer  b'long  ter?" 

"  To  the  army." 

"  See  here,  Yank  ;  I  asked  yer  a  civ'l  question  ;  if  yer 
don't  give  me  a  civ'l  answer,  dog  scotch  me  if  I  don't 
give  yer  pineapple  soup  for  supper." 

By  pineapple  soup  Somers  understood  him  to  mean 
a  minie  ball,  deducing  this  conclusion  from  the  resem- 
blance of  this  messenger  of  death  to  the  fruit  mentioned. 
The  rebel  seemed  suddenly  to  have  changed  his  humor, 
and  the  captive  found  that  it  was  not  safe  to  give  indirect 
answers ;  so  he  told  who  and  what  he  was  in  full, 
without  any  equivocation. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  became  of  the  owner  of  that 
horse?  '*  said  Somers,  pointing  to  the  animal,  led  by  one 


r 


) 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  263 

of  the  rebels ;  but  he  did  not  venture  to  put  the  question 
to  Turkin. 

"  May  be  I  can  ;  but  may  be  I  won't,"  replied  the 
man,   in   surly  tones. 

"Was  he  killed?" 

"  If  he  was,  he  was  ;  if  he  wasn't,  he  wasn't." 

Somers  could  obtain  no  information  on  this  subject, 
and  he  feared  the  worst. 


264  IIGBTISO    JOE,    OB 


.     CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  CAt'S  PATV. 

OTWITHSTANDIXG  his  own  misfortunes, 
Somers  could  not  help  thinking  of  his  friend 
De  Banyan,  whom  he  regarded  as  an  elder 
brother.  They  had  endured  much  suffering, 
and  passed  through  many  perils  together,  and  the  bond 
of  union  between  them  was  very  strong.  The  riderless 
horse  indicated  that  h^  had  been  killed.  The  rebels  had 
fired  upon  Somers  before  they  summoned  him  to  sur- 
render, and  probably  a  shot  aimed  at  De  Banyan  had 
been  more  unfortunate.  It  was  very  sad  for  Somers  to 
think  of  his  noble  companion,  shot  down  by  an  unseen 
foe  ;  but  he  could  hardly  cherish  a  hope  that  he  was  still 
alive.  It  would  have  been  better  for  him  to  fall  in 
the  front  of  battle,  where  he  had  so  often  distinguished 
himself. 

It  w^as  hard  to  give  him  up  ;  yet  all  the  probabilities 
were,  that  he  had  been  killed,  and  that  his  body  lay 
unnoticed  and  unhonored  on  the  spot  where  he  had 
fallen.      Somers  w^as  a  prisoner  himself,  and  had  been 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  265 

plundered  even  of  the  most  necessary  articles  of  wearing 
apparel,  and  subjected  to  needless  insult  and  brutality. 
The  condition  of  the  Union  prisoners  at  Richmond,  An- 
dersonville,  and  Salisbury  was  too  well  known  to  him  to 
render  the  prospect  before  him  even  tolerable.  But  a 
desponding  spirit  would  only  aggravate  his  miseries,  and 
he  determined  to  submit  to  his  fate  with  patient  resigna- 
tion. He  felt  that  he  was  in  the  keeping  of  the  good 
Father,  who  doeth  all  things  well ;  and  in  His  appointed 
time  he  would  be  rescued  from  peril  and  restored  to  his 
friends  ;  or,  if  it  was  the  will  of  Heaven  that  he  should 
lay  down  his  life  in  grief  and  misery  for  the  cause  he 
had  chosen  to  serve,  he  would  try  to  be  faithful  and 
patient  unto  the   bitter  end. 

The  rebels  conducted  him  through  the  woods  to  the 
creek,  which  they  forded,  and  continued  on  their  way 
till  they  reached  a  grove,  where  it  now  appeared  that 
they  had  picketed  their  horses.  It  was  also  evident  to 
the  unfortunate  prisoner  that  his  captors  were  not  reg- 
ular cavalrymen,  but  guerillas,  who  hung  on  the  flanks  of 
the  army  to  rob  the  wounded,  plunder  the  dead,  capture 
stragglers  worth  the  trouble,  and  gather  up  the  spoils 
of  battle.  When  this  was  apparent  to  Somers,  from 
the  words  and  the  actions  of  the  wretches,  he  felt  that 
he  had  reason  to  be  thankful  that  they  had  not  murdered 
him,  as  they  probably  had  his  friend.  His  life  had  been 
spared,  but  this  new  revelation  of  the  character  of  his 
23 


266  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

captors  suggested  a  doubt  whether  death  was  not  prefer- 
able to  captivity  in  the  hands  of  such  miscreants.  At 
the  grove  the  men  halted. 

"  Now,  cap'n,  ofF  with  them  boots  ! "  said  Turkin,  in 
savage  tones. 

Somers  felt  that  he  had  not  a  moment's  lease  of  life 
secured  to  him,  and  he  promptly  complied  with  the  un- 
reasonable demand  of  the  guerilla. 

"  Who's  g^vine  to  hev  them  boots?  "  suggested  one  of 
the  gang. 

"  The  man  as  they  fits,"  replied  Turkin,  who  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  try  them  on. 

"  No,  sir  !  I'll  be  dog-on'd  if  anything  of  that  sort 
shall  be  did  !  "  protested'  the  other. 

'*  "Well,  Gragg,  what's  the  use  of  them  boots  to  you? 
You  couldn't  put  'em  outside  yer  feet,  more'n  yer  could 
crawl  inter  the  barrel  of  yer  shooter." 

"  May  be  I  couldn't ;  but  them  boots  is  wuth  more 
to  you  than  the  boss.     Draw  lots  fur  'em." 

The  guerillas  debated  this  question  for  some  time,  and 
with  so  much  acrimony  that  Somers  ventured  to  hope 
they  would  resort  to  knives  and  bullets  in  the  adjustment 
of  the  quarrel,  and  thus  afford  him  an  opportunity  to 
profit  by  the  discussion.  But  it  was  finally  agi'eed  to 
value  the  property,  and  make  an  equal  division  of  it. 
Turkin  could  not  get  the  boots  on ;  whereat  he  was 
greatly  enraged,  and  looked  at  Somers  as  though  he 


THE  FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  267 

intended  to  annihilate  him  for  not  having  a  larger  foot. 
A  young  fellow  of  the  party  succeeded  in  getting  them 
on,  and  they  were  apportioned  to  him.  It  was  pleasant 
to  think  that  he  was  dooming  himself  to  a  great  deal  of 
misery  by  his  apparent  good  fortune;  for,  if  he  had 
corns,  the  boots  would  be  agony  to  him ;  if  not,  they 
would  be  tight  enough  to  raise  a  crop  of  the  tormentors 
in  a  very  brief  period.  If  through  tribulation  we  are 
brought  to  the  truth,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  sufferings 
of  the  young  guerilla  brought  him  to  a  belief  that  "  hon- 
esty is  the  best  policy,"  though  this  is'  not  the  highest 
rule  of  morality. 

Each  of  the  marauders  was  supplied  with  a  horse, 
and  apparently  to  save  the  trouble  of  leading  him,  rather 
than  for  the  comfort  of  the  prisoner,  Somers  was  ordered 
to  ride  the  animal  which  had  belonged  to  De  Banyan. 
The  party  were  loaded  with  plunder,  taken  from  the 
dead  and  wounded  of  both  armies,  as  Somers  judged 
from  the  appearance  of  the  articles.  They  moved  in  the 
direction  of  the  rebel  camps,  and  in  a  short  time  they 
had  passed  beyond  the  reach  of  danger  from  the  Union 

army. 

"  Gragg,  what  we  gwine  to  do  with  this  feller?"  said 
Turkin,  as  he  pointed  to  the  prisoner.     "  We  don't  want 

him." 

"  Knock  him  on  the  head,  and  leave  him  here,"  re- 
plied the  benevolent  Gragg. 


268  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  I  don't  keer,"  added  Turkin,  as  he  rubbed  his  mat- 
ted hair  beneath  his  hat,  as  if  to  stimulate  a  half  de- 
veloped idea  which  was  struggling  for  existence  in  his 
brain. 

Somers  did  care  :  it  would  make  considerable  differ- 
ence to  him.  He  had  patiently  submitted  to  the  policy 
of  his  captors  in  order  to  save  his  life  ;  but  upon  the 
question  of  murdering  him  in  cold  blood,  he  felt  that  he 
had  something  to  say.  If  resorting  to  desperate  meas- 
ures would  afford  the  slightest  hope  of  escape,  he  was 
ready  to  accept  the  issue.  There  were  seven  of  the 
guerillas,  and  resistance  was  almost  hopeless,  yet  not 
entirely  so,  for  there  was  a  single  favorable  circum- 
stance to  aid  him. 

As  the  prisoner  rode  along  between  Turkin  and  Gragg, 
he  happened  to  discover  that  the  holsters  of  De  Banyan's 
horse  still  contained  the  pistols  of  his  friend.  They 
were  two  navy  revolvers,  which  the  guerillas  had  neg- 
lected to  secure.  With  these  formidable  weapons  Som- 
ers believed  that  he  could  make  a  tolerably  good  fight, 
though  such  a  course  would  be  madness  on  his  part, 
unless  he  was  reduced  to  the  most  desperate  extremity, 
when  death  was  certain  if  he  did  not  resort  to  it. 

"  We  don't  want  ter  be  bothered  with  this  carri'n," 
continued  the  philanthropic  Gragg. 

"  I  was  thinkin',"  said  Turkin. 

*' Was  yer?"  demanded  Gragg,  as  the  thinker  did 


THE   FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  269 

not  develop  the  result  of  his  meditations.     "  What  was 
yer  thiukin'  ?  " 

"  Yer  know  what  happened  yesterday  ?  " 

Gragg  did  know,  and  as  it  appeared  from  their  conver- 
sation, Colonel  Grayhame,  of  the  Confederate  cavalry, 
had  threatened  to  hang  the  whole  of  the  gang  for  some 
irregular  proceedings  among  the  rebel  wounded. 

"The  kun'l's  down  on  us,  Gragg,"  added  the  politic 
Turkin. 

"  I  don't  keer." 

"  He'll  spile  our  prospects.  "We  kin  make  him  good 
natered  by  giviu'  him  a  young  scrub  of  a  Yankee  officer 
like  this." 

"  I  don't  keer." 

"  It  won't  cost  nothin'.  We  don't  want  the  young  cub  ; 
and  he'll  think  we're  doin'  sunthin'  for  the  cause." 

".He'll  make  yer  give  up  the  boots  and  the  coat,"  sn^- 
gested  the  prudent  Gragg. 

"  You  bet  he  won't !  "  replied  Turkin,  positively. 
"The  feller  is  a  staff  officer,  belongin'  to  one  of  the 
big  Yankee  gin'rals ;  and  the  kun'l  will  be  glad  to 
git  him." 

"But  the  coat  and  the  boots,  the  w^atch  and  the 
money?  The  kun'l's  foolish  about  sech  things.  He 
don't  take  'em  from  the  Yanks." 

It  was  finally  decided  to  say  that  the  prisoner  had  been 
robbed  of  these  articles  before  they  captured  him,  and  to 
23* 


270  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

deliver  the  captive  to  the  colonel,  as  a  conciliatory  offer- 
inof.     Somers  was  much  relieved  when  this  decision  was 

o 

reached,  for  it  was  some  satisfaction  to  be  handed  over 
to  an  officer  who  was  a  gentleman,  and  had  some  regard 
for  the  comfort  of  his  prisoners. 

When  the  guerillas  arrived  at  the  spot  where  the  camp 
of  Colonel  Grayhame  had  been  on  the  previous  day,  their 
plans  were  entirely  changed  by  learning  that  the  cavalry 
under  his  command  had  been  ordered  away  to  look  after 
the  Union  force,  sent  down  to  destroy  the  West  Point 
Railroad ;  not  that  this  information  affected  their  pur- 
poses, but  because  it  suggested  a  field  for  the  better 
prosecution  of  their  irregular  work.  Somers  heard 
them  discuss  the  matter ;  and  he  found  that  they  be- 
lieved the  Union  cavalry  would  burn  and  plunder  public 
and  private  property,  without  discrimination,  wherever 
they  went.  Their  presence  would  create  a  panic  ;  houses 
would  be  abandoned,  citizens  killed,  and  the  spoils  would 
be  plentiful.  When  Turkin  suggested  that  the  party 
should  follow  the  colonel,  and  gather  up  the  plunder, 
his  companions  readily  assented. 

Somers  did  not  learn  what  was  to  be  done  with  him- 
self, but  he  concluded  that  he  was  to  go  with  them. 
Though  it  was  now  dark,  the  guerillas  immediately 
started  for  the  new  field  of  operations,  and  the  prisoner 
was  placed  between  Gragg  and  Turkin,  as  before.  These 
worthies  were  less  communicative  during   the  evening 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  271 

than  they  had  been  immediately  after  his  capture,  and 
Somers  listened  in  vain  for  any  hint  in  regard  to  the 
disposition  which  they  intended  to  make  of  him. 

They  rode  till  about  nine  o'clock,  when  Gragg  sug- 
gested that  they  were  human,  and  ought  to  have  some 
supper.  They  were  approaching  the  mansion  of  a 
planter,  and  as  they  owed  allegiance  to  neither  side  in 
the  great  conflict,  it  mattered  but  little  to  them  Avho  or 
what  the  owner  was.  Their  sympathies  were  undoubtedly 
with  the  South,  but  their  love  of  plunder  was  stronger 
than  their  sympathies. 

"  Git  off  the  boss,  cap'n,"  said  Turkin,  as  the  party 
halted  in  the  yard  of  the  house. 

Somers  obeyed.  In  the  darkness  of  the  evening  he 
had  contrived  to  remove  one  of  the  revolvers  from  its 
holster,  and  place  it  under  his  vest ;  for  he  did  not  know 
that  he  should  again  be  permitted  to  mount  the  horse. 
He  had  also  transfen*ed  from  a  leather  bag  on  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle,  two  or  three  at  a  time,  a  sufficient 
number  of  patent  cartridges  and  caps.  He  was  not 
without  a  hope  that  the  present  halt  would  afford  him 
an  opportunity  to  attempt  an  escape. 

"  Lead  your  horse  to  the  stable,"  added  Turkin. 

He  put  the  horse  in  the  stable  with  the  others  ;  but  he 
was  closely  watched  all  the  time.  While  he  was  thus 
engaged,  he  saw  Gragg  and  Turkin  in  close  conversation  ; 
and,  though  Somers  could  not  hear  what  was  said,  he 
was  satisfied  that  they  were  talking  about  him. 


272  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  Cap'n,"  said  Turkin,  as  the  prisoner  came  out  of  the 
stall. 

"  I  am  here,"  replied  Somers. 

"  Will  you  be  shot  afore  supper,  or  arter  ?  '* 

"  Neither." 

*'  That's  jest  what  I  expected  you  mought  say,  because 
it  stands  to  reason  no  man  don't  want  to  be  shot." 

"  Just  my  sentiments  ;  I  don't  want  to  be  shot." 

"  Jes  so  ;  and  yer  ought  to  be  much  obleeged  tet  me 
fur  not  shoot' n  yer  before." 

*'  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  your  consideration.'* 

"  Exac'ly ;  you  ain't  no  more  use  to  us  than  a  knife 
and  fork  to  a  cow." 

"  I  don't  do  you  any  harm." 

"  That  may  be  ;  but  yer  don't  do  no  good.  Cap'n, 
will  yer  be  shot  afore  supper,  or  arter  ? "  repeated 
Turkin. 

"  I  have  already  expressed  my  views  on  that  subject." 

"Yes  or  no?" 

"  No." 

*'  Cap'n,  you  kin  read,  I  take  it." 

"  I  can." 

"  D'yer  ever  read  the  story  about  the  monkey  that  took 
the  cat's  paw  to  haul  the  chestnuts  out  the  fire  with?  " 

"  I  have." 

"  I  knew  yer  hed ;  yer  Yanks  is  great  readers.  Do 
yer  know  what  the  moril  is  to  that  story  ?  '* 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  273 

"  T  thiuk  I  do." 

"  I  knew  yer  did  ;  ycr  Yanks  is  great  on  morils.  I'm 
gwiuc  ter  tell  yer  the  moril  of  that  story.  Did  ycr  say 
you'd  be  shot  afore  supper,  or  artcr?" 

"  Neither,  if  it  %vill  accommodate  you  just  as  well," 
replied  Somers,  greatly  perplexed  to  know  what  the 
fellow  was  going  to  do. 

*'  Never  mind,  then  ;  we'll  talk  about  the  moril.  It 
ain't  jest  the  thing  fur  us  to  go  inter  this  house,  and  make 
'em  get  supper  fur  us,  because  we  ain't  exac'ly  reg'lar. 
We  wan't  the  supper,  and  we  may  want  sunthin'  more, 
arter  that.  AVe  don't  want  to  be  seen  in  the  business. 
Now,  we  are  the  monkey,  and  you  are  the  cat's  paw  — 
don't  yer  see  ?  " 

"  I  don't  quite  understand  you." 

*'  You  shall  go  in,  order  the  supper,  and  do  the  talkin' 
for  us.  When  they  git  supper  ready,  we'll  go  in  and 
eat  it,  without  any  of  the  folks  seein'  on  us.  Yer'll  be 
cap'n,  and  do  the  talkin'  for  us  —  don't  yer  see?  " 

"  I  see." 

"And  keep  the  folks  from  seein'  us  too — don't  yer 
see?" 

''  I  see." 

'*  Now,  cap'n,  will  yer  be  shot  afore  supper,  or  arter?  " 
demanded  Turkin. 

"  Neither,"  replied  Somers,  thereby  consenting  to  the 
plan  proposed  by  the  guerilla. 


274  FIQHTIXG    JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


SUPPER  FOR  SEVEN. 


(\jr^\  HATEVER  the  merits  of  the  plan  in  which 
Somers  was  compelled  to  take  a  part,  he 
did  not  relish  the  idea  of  being  made  a  cat's 
paw  in  the  hands  of  such  unmitigated  villains  as  the 
guerillas.  It  involved  no  sacrifice  of  principle,  and  did 
not  require  him  to  give  "  aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy  ;" 
otherwise  he  would  have  taken  his  chances  in  an  en- 
counter with  the  whole  squad.  It  was  one  portion  of  the 
enemy  feeding  on  another  portion  ;  and  if  the  planter,  who 
was  himself  a  rebel,  objected  to  the  forced  contribution, 
he  had  only  to  thank  himself  for  the  state  of  things  he 
had  assisted  in  bringing  about. 

"  I  am  ready,"  said  Somers,  when  Turkin  had  fully 
explained  his  plan. 

"  We're  all  half  starved,  and   I  cal'late  we're  ready 
too." 

"  But  do  you  think  I  shall  look  much  like  an  officer, 
when  I  go  in  without  any  coat  or  boots  ?  '* 

"  May  be  we  mought  lend  you  a  coat,"  replied  Turkin, 
struck  with  the  force  of  the  suggestion. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  275 

By  his  order,  Soraers's  coat  was  restored  to  him,  with 
the  remark  that  he  would  uot  want  it  after  supper ;  which 
led  him  to  believe  that  he  was  to  be  shot  when  the 
wretches  had  no  further  use  for  him. 

*'  An  officer  usually  wears  a  sword,"  added  Somers, 
*'  and  a  pair  of  boots." 

"  Ger  'long  !  "  said  Gragg. 

"  Do  you  think  an  officer  would  be  without  boots,  when 
all  his  men  are  so  well  shod  ?  I  think  I  should  be  a  cat's 
paw  without  any  claws."  \ 

'•Give  him  his  boots;  he  won't  want 'em  arter  sup- 
per," replied  Turkin  ;  and  the  young  man  who  had  these 
useful  articles  was  compelled  to  pull  them  off,  which  he 
did  with  a  great  deal  of  difficulty. 

Somers  put  them  on,  and  began  to  feel  like  himself 
again. 

"  See  here,  cap'n ;  couldn't  you  send  the  folks  all  out 
the  house  for  a  while,  when  we  are  at  supper?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  could ;  but  I  fancy  they  will  think  I  am  a 
humbug,  when  I  go  in  without  a  sword." 

"Give  him  his  sword,"  said  Turkin.  "Now,  kin 
yer  send  the  folks  off?  -r-  play  'em  some  Yankee  trick  ? 
—  don't  yer  see  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  I  could  ;  I'll  try." 

''  Ef  yer  do  well,  we'll  give  yer  supper  afore  —  " 

*'  You  git ! "  said  Gragg,  expressively. 

"  I'll  do  the  best  I  can,"  replied  Somers,  confirmed  in 


276  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

his  opinion  that  the  savages  meant  to  kill  him,  by  the  in- 
terrupted remark  of  Turkin,  and  the  expressive  tones  of 
Grao-or. 

"  Kin  yer  write,  Yank?  "  asked  Turkin. 

"  I  can." 

*'  I  knew  yer  could ;  yer  Yanks  is  great  at  writin'. 
"Write  'em  a  note,  sayin'  somebody  wants  ter  see  'em 
down  to  the  next  house." 

"  Capital !"  exclaimed  Somers.  "I  should  think  you 
were  a  Yankee  yourself." 

"  Don't  call  me  a  Yank." 

"  I  only  meant  that  you  can  beat  the  Yankees  at  playing 
tricks." 

"  I'm  some." 

All  the  servants  outside  the  house  had  been  captured, 
and  kept  in  the  darkness,  where  they  could  not  recognize 
any  of  the  guerillas.  They  had  already  been  questioned, 
and  enough  was  known  of  the  family  to  enable  Somers  to 
write  a  note  ;  but  they  had  no  paper. 

"  I  can  manage  it,"  said  Somers,  suddenly,  as  though  a 
splendid  suggestion  had  occurred  to  him.  "  If  I  take 
from  my  Testament  one  of  those  pictures,  and  tell  them 
the-  person  represented  wishes  to  see  them,  they  will  go. 
If  they  don't  recognize  the  picture,  they  will  be  the  more 
curious  to  know  who  it  is." 

"  May  be  they  will,"  replied  Turkin,  doubtfully. 

But  it  appeared  from  the  story  of  the  negroes  that  a  son 


THE    FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFICER.  211 

of  the  gentleman  in  the  next  house  had  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  planter ;  that  both  were  at  Savannah  ;  and  it 
was  finally  agi*eed  that  the  spokesman  of  the  party  should 
say  the  daughter  had  suddenly  arrived,  was  quite  ill,  and 
wished  all  the  family  would  come  down  and  see  her. 

"  But  I  want  one  of  those  pictures  to  write  the  message 
on,"  added  Somers. 

*'  I'll  give  yer  one." 

"  And  I  want  to  take  it  from  the  Testament.  It  will 
look  naore  natural." 

The  guerillas  thought  so  too,  and  by  the  light  of  the 
lantern  which  one  of  the  negroes  brought,  he  wrote  in 
pencil,  "  These  villains  mean  to  rob  your  house  after  sup- 
per;  get  a  force  and  capture  them." 

*'  He's  great  at  writin'  —  ain't  he?"  said  the  admiring 
Turkin. 

*'  Will  you  look  at  it?  "  asked  Somers,  innocently. 

Turkin  took  the  card,  and  looked  at  it  steadily  by  the 
light  of  the  lantern  for  a  moment,  and  then  handed  it 
back  to  the  writer. 

*'  That  will  do,  you  bet,"  added  Turkin.  "  We're  great 
on  a  trick  —  ain't  we  ?  '* 

"  There's  nothing  like  a  well-managed  trick,"  answered 
Somers,  as  he  placed  the  card  in  the  Testament,  which 
had  been  given  him  for  the  purpose.  "You  are  sharp 
fellows,  and  this  thing  will  work  to  a  charm." 

"  I  cal'late  it  will ;  but  ger  'long ;  we  want  our  sup- 
24 


278  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

per.     After   that  we'll    show  you  a  trick  wuth  two  of 
that." 

They  -talked  to  the  side  door  of  the  house,  which  was 
some  distance  from  the  stable,  so  that  the  arrival  of  the 
guerillas  had  not  been  noticed  by  the  people  within.  The 
villains  seemed  to  have  a  very  wholesome  dread  of  Colo- 
nel Grayhame,  for  they  often  alluded  to  him  in  connec- 
tion with  the  present  operation ;  and  they  had  already 
discovered  that  his  main  force  was  not  far  in  advance  o^ 
them,  while  detachments  of  his  regiment  were  guarding 
the  railroad,  not  half  a  mile  from  the  house. 

"  See  here,  Yank  ;  I  don't  know  as  we  kin  trust  yer," 
said  Turkin,  who  had  accompanied  him  to  the  door,  leav- 
ing his  companions  in  an  arbor,  within  hail  of  the 
mansion. 

"  I  don't  care  whether  you  do  or  not,'*  answered 
Somers.     "  This  isn't  my  job  ;  it  is  yours." 

"  I'll  go  in  with  yer,  with  my  face  kivered  up,  and  if 
yer  don't  talk  right  up,  I  shan't  ask  yer  whether  yer'U 
be  shot  afore  supper  or  arter." 

"  I'll  do  just  what  you  tell  me  to  do." 

"  Ger  'long,  then." 

Somers  knocked  at  the  door,  which  seemed  to  displease 
his  rude  companion,  who  wished  him  to  walk  in  without 
any  ceremony;  but  the  "cat's  paw"  explained  that  a 
certain  degree  of  courtesy  would  help  the  enterprise,  and 
the  guerilla  assented,  though  with  an  ill  grace.  The 
door  was  opened  by  a  sleek,  black  servant. 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  279 

"  Is  Colonel  Romau  within?"  asked  Somers,  using  the 
name  of  the  planter  which  had  been  given  him  by 
Turkiu. 

''  Yes,  sar." 

*'  I  wish  to  see  him." 

"  Walk  in,  sar.'* 

Somers  w^as  conducted  to  an  elegant  library,  where  the 
planter  and  his  family  were  seated.  He  was  closely  fol- 
lowed by  Turkin,  who  had  tied  a  red  silk  handkerchief 
over  his  face,  so  that  his  ugly  physiognomy  was  entirely 
concealed  from  the  inmates  of  the  room.  The  planter 
rose  from  his  chair,  and  bowed  with  stately  courtesy  to 
his  unexpected  visitors. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  for  disturbing  you.  Colonel 
Roman,"  said  Somers. 

"  Whom  have  I  the  honor  of  addressing  ? "  de- 
manded the  planter,  rather  coldly. 

''  Captain  Somers,  of  the  army,  at  your  service,  sir." 

"  You  seem  to  wear  the  uniform  of  the  Yankees." 

"  That's  inter  yer,"  whispered  Turkin,  who  stood 
close  by  his  spokesman. 

"  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  this  uniform  from  a 
Yankee  officer  whom  I  captured,"  replied  Somers,  with 
promptness. 

"  There  yer  hev  him,"  added  Turkin. 

"  That  explains  it,  though  some  officers  prefer  to  go 
in  rags  rather  than  wear  the  colors  of  the  Yankees, 
especially  when  obtained  in  that  manner." 


280  FIGHTING   JOE,    Oli 

"  I  have  only  to  say,  sir,  that  the  Yankee  from  Avliora 
I  got  them  had  no  further  use  for  his  clothes,"  added 
Somers,  pleased  to  find  that  the  chivalry  did  not  justify 
the  system  which  prevailed  of  robbing  prisoners  of  their 
clothing. 

"  May  I  ask  your  business  with  me,  sir?" 

"  I  have  a  small  squad  of  seven  men  with  me.  "We 
have  had  no  supper,  and  we  wish  to  trespass  so  far  on 
your  hospitality  as  to  obtain  one  in  your  house." 

"  Eight  of  you  ?  "  asked  the  planter.  "  You  shall  be 
supplied  at  once." 

"  We  are  in  great  haste." 

*'  All  possible  expedition  shall  be  used  in  preparing 
the  meal,"  answered  the  planter,  as  he  ordered  his  ser- 
vant to  give  the  proper  directions  to  the  cook  and  others. 
"Do  you  belong  to  Colonel  Grayhame's  force?" 

*'  Tell  him  yer  do,"  whispered  Turkin. 

"  We  do,  sir.  We  stepped  at  the  next  house  below, 
to  get  some  supper,  for  we  are  almost  starved ;  but  they 
had  just  received  some  friends  from  Savannah,  and  could 
not  provide  for  us." 

"From  Savannah?"  said  the  planter,  with  evident 
surprise  ;  and  immediately  the  ladies  present  suspended 
their  sewing,  and  looked  at  the  young  officer. 

"  Yer  smart,  Yank  !  "  muttered  Turkin,  who  appeared 
to  enjoy  the  situation  amazingly. 

"  I  think  they  said  from  Savannah,"  replied  Somers. 


THE    FORTUKES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  281 

"  They  recommended  us  to  come  here,  assuring  us  that 
you  never  turned  a  hungry  soldier  from  your  door. 
They  gave  me  a  card,  requesting  me  to  deliver  it  to 
you." 

Somers  handed  the  planter  the  photograph,  on  tlie 
back  of  which  was  written  the  appalling  statement  of 
the  character  of  the  guerillas.  It  was  a  fearful  moment 
to  him,  for  the  alarm  of  the  planter  might  betray  him  to 
the  bloodthirsty  villain  who  stood  at  his  side.  Though 
the  silk  handkerchief  over  the  face  of  Turkin  impaired 
his  vision,  it  did  not  entirely  obstruct  it. 

Colonel  Roman  read  the  words  on  the  card ;  ho  was 
startled  by  them,  and  glanced  at  the  bearer  of  the  mes- 
sage. Somers  contracted  his  brow,  shook  his  head 
slightly  in  the  direction  of  Turkin,  and  assumed  a  depre- 
catory expression,  which  the  planter  seemed  to  under- 
stand. 

"  The  persons  at  the  next  house  wish  to  see  you  as 
soon  as  possible,"  added  Somers. 

"  We  will  go  at  once,"  replied  Colonel  Roman,  "  if 
you  will  excuse  my  absence." 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  answered  Somers,  now  fully  assured 
that  he  was  understood. 

"What  is  it,  father?"  asked  one  of  the  daughters, 
puzzled  by  the  remarks  which  had  been  made  in  her 
presence. 

"  Your  sister  Lucretia  has  arrived  from  Savannah  ; 
24* 


282  FIOHTINO   JOE,    OR 

she  is  ill,  and  we  will  go  down  and  see  her  immediately," 
replied  the  planter. 

The  wife  and  both  of  the  daughters  expressed  their 
surprise ;  but  the  colonel  directed  them  to  get  ready  as 
speedily  as  possible,  and  they  left  the  room  for  this 
purpose. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  leave  you,  captain,"  continued  the 
planter ;  "  but  I  will  endeavor  to  return  as  soon  as 
you  have  finished  your  supper.  Pray  make  yourselves 
entirely  at  home.  Why  don't  your  men  come  into  the 
house.  My  doors  are  always  open  to  the  defenders  of 
my  country." 

"  Thank  you,  Colonel  Roman.  I  will  take  them  into 
the  dining-room  at  once." 

"  Do  so,"  said  the  planter,  as  he  left  the  room. 

"  You're  smart,  Yank  !  "  exclaimed  Turkin. 

"  I  have  only  done  what  you  told  me  to  do.  If 
there  is  any  credit  about  the  affair,  it  belongs  to  you," 
replied  Somers,  in  a  deprecatory  tone. 

"  That's  so,  Yank ;  but  yer  kerried  it  through  right 
smart,  and  yer  shall  hev  some  supper  afore  —  " 

"  You  are  shot,"  the  ruffian  would  have  said,  if  not 
prevented  by  prudential  motives. 

The  planter  and  his  family  left  the  house  by  the  front 
door  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  they  used  all  possible  haste 
to  escape  from  the  presence  of  the  guerillas,  whose  char- 
acter they  now  understood.     In  the  mean  time,  Turkin 


THE   FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF   OFFICER.  283 

amused  himself  by  opening  the  various  drawers  in  the 
planter's  secretary,  and  prying  into  every  hole  and  corner 
^vhich  might  be  supposed  to  contain  any  valuables. 

In  half  an  hour,  supper  was  announced,  and  Turkin 
went  to  the  dining-room.  The  servants  were  sent  off, 
and  ordered  not  to  show  themselves  again.  The  guerillas 
then  sat  down  to  supper,  making  Somers  stand  before  the 
door  leading  into  the  hall,  to  notify  them  of  the  approach 
of  any  person.  They  ate  and  drank,  but  they  did  not 
hear  the  sounds  of  horses'  hoofs  in  the  yard,  just  as  they 
finished  their  meal. 


284  FIGHTING   JOE,  ^  OB 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE  cat's  paw  too  SHARP  FOR  THE  MONKEY. 

/^^^HE  side  door  of  the  house  opened  into  the  hall, 
■  ■  where  Somers  stood  as  sentinel  for  the  hungry 
^^jy  guerillas,  and  from  which  a  flight  of  stairs  led 
to  the  second  floor.  The  prisoner  had  carefully  noted 
all  the  surroundings,  for  he  had  learned  from  "  Fighting 
Joe  "  that  the  battle  was  gained  only  by  good  strategy, 
which  must  depend  upon  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
ground. 

When  the  precious  plan  of  his  captors  was  first  de- 
veloped, Somers  regarded  it  as  the  means  of  his  deliver- 
ance, though  he  could  not  then  tell  precisely  in  what 
manner  it  was  to  be  accomplished.  He  knew  that  an 
important  bridge  on  the  railroad,  not  far  from  Colonel 
Roman's  house,  was  guarded  by  a  squad  of  cavalry,  and 
he  readily  perceived  that  this  force  would  be  brought  up 
by  the  planter  for  the  protection  of  his  family  and  the 
capture  of  the  guerillas.  These  wretches  were  by  no 
means  an  anomalous  class  on  the  flanks  of  Sherman's 
grand   march  to  the  sea ;    and  Colonel   Roman  readily 


THE  FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  285 

understood  who  and  what  they  were.  They  were  nomi- 
nally southern  partisans,  organized,  protected,  and  cn- 
coura^-ed  by  the  president  of  the  Confederate  States  ;  but 
they  were  as  Avilling  to  plunder  one  party  in  the  strife  as 
the  other. 

Somers  had  no  special  sympathy  for  the  planter, 
though  he  would  have  gladly  raised  his  arm  in  defence 
of  the  female  members  of  his  fiimily,  even  against  the 
wretches  whom  treason  and  rebellion  had  brought  into 
the  field.  AVhat  he  had  done  Avas  for  his  own  benefit, 
rather  than  for  that  of  the  hospitable  rebel.  He  had 
recovered  possession  of  his  boots  and  coat,  his  Testament 
and  photographs,  when  he  became  the  "  cat's  paw  "  of  the 
guerillas,  and  he  was  now  in  condition  to  make  a  move- 
ment as  soon  as  the  circumstances  would  justify  it. 

The  land-pirates  —  for  they  can  be  called  by  no  more 
appropriate  name  —  finished  their  supper,  and  turned 
their  attention  to  the  second  part  of  the  programme  they 
had  laid  out.  Evidently  they  did  not  intend  to  sack  the 
mansion,  but  only  to  appropriate  such  valuable  small 
articles  as  could  be  conveniently  carried  about  their  per- 
sons. For  this  purpose  Turkin  and  Gragg  entered  the 
library  ;  two  others  crossed  the  hall  into  the  sitting-room  ; 
and  the  other  three  went  up  stairs.  They  had  not  heard 
the  tramp  of  horses  in  the  yard ;  but  Somers,  being  near 
the  side  door,  which  was  partly  open,  listened  to  the 
sounds  as  the  notes  of  his  own  deliverance. 


286  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

The  time  for  action  had  come,  and  while  the  guerillas 
were  intent  upon  their  plunder,  Somers  left  the  door 
where  he  had  been  stationed,  and  moved  round  to  the 
rear  of  the  staircase,  where  he  expected  to  find  a  passage 
to  the  cellar ;  but  he  found  none.  The  house  was  sur- 
rounded by  rebel  cavalry,  and  it  was  not  safe  for  him  to 
go  out,  for  he  did  not  forget  that  it  was  necessary  for  him 
to  escape  from  the  foe  without,  as  well  as  the  foe  within. 
They  were  both  enemies  ;  and  though  one  was  less  barba- 
rous than  the  other,  he  had  hardly  more  relish  for  An- 
dersonville,  than  for  being  shot  by  the  wretches  who 
held  him. 

As  the  only  alternative,  he  went  up  the  stairs ;  and 
avoiding  the  three  men  who  were  searching  the  cham- 
bers there,  he  found  the  garret  steps,  and  went  up,  where 
he  was  not  likely  to  be  followed  by  any  of  his  late  com- 
panions. He  had  scarcely  reached  this  secure  position 
before  the  commotion  below  indicated  that  the  cavalrv- 
men  had  commenced  their  work.  One  or  two  shots  were 
fired  ;  but  the  noise  immediately  subsided,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  robbers  had  all  been  captured. 

"  There  were  eight  of  them,  you  said,"  Somers  heard 
some  one  in  the  entry  below  remark. 

"  There  w^ere ;  but  one  of  them  was  the  officer  who 
gave  the  information,"  replied  another,  whom  the  fugi- 
tive recognized  as  Colonel  Roman. 

"  But  he  was  one  of  the  gang." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  287 

''  He  looked  like  a  Yankee  offieer,"  added  the  colonel. 

"  We  want  him,  whatever  he  is,  if  it  is  only  for  his 
evidence  against  these  villains  we  have  captured.  Colonel 
Grayhame  threatened  to  hang  these  same  scoundrels  only 
yesterday." 

"  The  officer  who  gave  me  the  card  is  clearly  not  one 
of  this  gang." 

"  I  don't  understand  it,"  said  the  other  person,  who  was 
probably  the  officer  in  command  of  the  squad  of  cavalry. 

''  I  should  be  very  glad  of  an  explanation,  but  I  am 
greatly  indebted  to  the  gentleman,  and  I  wish  to  thank 
him,  if  nothing  more,  for  the  favor  he  has  done  me," 
continued  the  colonel. 

"  I  have  nothing  against  him,  but  I  wish  to  know  what 
he  is." 

Somers  hoped  he  would  not  trouble  himself,  and  he 
was  even  willing  the  planter  should  omit  to  thank  him  f 
for  the  officer's  curiosity  and  the -colonel's  gratitude  threat- 
ened to  consign  him  to  a  rebel  prison.  He  heard  a  call 
from  the  former,  followed  by  the  tramp  of  heavy  feet  on 
the  lower  staircase. 

"  Lieutenant,  I  hope  you  will  consider  my  position  in 
this  matter,"  said  the  planter. 

"  I  must  do  my  duty.  If  the  man  is  a  Yankee  officer, 
as  you  think,  he  must  not  be  permitted  to  roam  around 
the  country.  He  may  belong  to  the  force  which  is  now 
destroying  the  railroad;   perhaps  .gobbled  up  by  these 


288  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

miscreants.  It  is  not  for  me  to  say  what  shall  be  done 
with  him.  I  must  catch  him  if  I  can.  I  saw  him  stand- 
ing at  the  door  of  the  dining-room,  when  I  looked  in  at 
the  window,  and  I  am  positive  he  has  not  left  the  house." 

"  I  regard  the  person  as  my  friend,"  added  the  planter, 
warmly.  "  My  wife  and  daughters,  as  well  as  myself, 
are  very  grateful  to  him,  for  he  has  saved  them  from 
insult  and  outrage,  for  aught  I  know." 

"  Your  feelings  and  those  of  your  family  shall  be  re- 
spected, Colonel  Roman  ;  but  I  must  do  my  duty,"  an- 
swered the  lieutenant,  firmly. 

The  officer  then  ordered  his  men  to  search  the  various 
apartments  and  closets  of  the  second  floor.  Somers, 
though  the  case  certainly  looked  very  hopeful  for  him, 
with  the  powerful  influence  of  the  wealthy  planter  in  his 
favor,  wished  to  escape ;  but  he  thought  it  would  be  an 
^asy  and  safe  thing  to  return  to  Sherman's  army  before 
Atlanta,  and  he  was  not  disposed  to  be  introduced  to  the 
lieutenant,  or  even  to  improve  his  acquaintance  with 
Colonel  Roman.  If  he  could  conceal  himself  until  the 
squad  of  cavalry  retired,  he  was  satisfied  that  the  planter 
would  enable  him  to  return  to  the  army. 

It  was  very  dark  in  the  garret,  and  while  the  lieutenant 
and  his  party  were  searching  the  chambers,  Somers  care- 
fully felt  about  him  for  some  place  of  concealment.  The 
roof  was  a  four-sided  one,  in  which  there  were  no  win- 
dows ;    but  while  he  was  walking  about,  he  struck  his 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  289 

lieaa  agaiust  a  long  irou  liaudlc,  ■which  proved  to  be 
attached  to  a  shutter  or  scuttle.  This  he  unfastened 
and  raised,  and  his  eyes  were  greeted  by  a  view  of  the 
starry  sky.  The  discovery  was  a  welcome  one,  and  he 
lost  not  a  moment  in  availins:  himself  of  the  advantasre 
■which  it  seemed  to  afford. 

The  lower  end  of  the  aperture  ■was  within  reach  of  his 
hands  ;  and  with  great  care  and  no  little  difficulty  he 
raised  himself,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  the  roof — an 
operation  which  his  gymnastic  practice  enabled  him  to 
accomplish,  for  it  was  a  feat  an  untrained  person  could 
hardly  have  performed.  But  he  had  scarcely  reached 
the  roof  before  he  heard  his  pursuers  in  the  attic,  and 
the  light  from  their  lamps  shone  up  through  the  scuttle. 

*'  I  see  where  he  has  gone  !  "  shouted  the  lieutenant, 
as  he  discovered  the  open  shutter. 

"  He  will  fall  and  break  his  neck,"  added  the  planter. 

Somers  closed  the  scuttle,  and  sat  down  upon  it ;  but 
the  game  seemed  to  be  up  with  him.  lie  drew  his 
sword,  and  thrust  the  point  into  the  roof  as  far  as  he 
could,  causing  it  to  act  as  a  bolt  over  the  shutter  — 
hoping  by  this  means  to  gain  a  moment's  time  to  ex- 
amine the  situation.  There  appeared  to  be  no  means 
of  descending  from  the  roof  to  the  ground  except  by  the 
lightning-rods,  which  he  saw  rising  above  the  chimneys. 
Then,  if  he  reached  the  ground,  the  house  wae  sur- 
rounded  by  rebels,  and  his  fate  would  only  be  deferred. 
25 


290  FIGHTIXG   JOE,    OR 

While  lie  was  considering  these  facts,  the  men  in  the 
attic  were  endeavoring  to  raise  the  scuttle.  They  did 
not  at  once  succeed ;  but  Somers's  prospects  were  pres- 
ently destroyed,  -when  several  of  the  rebels  took  hold  of 
the  shutter  and  raised  it,  tumbling  the  fugitive  over  on 
the  roof.  A  short  ladder  was  placed  on  the  floor,  and 
•  the  lieutenant  mounted  to  the  top  of  the  house. 

"  Surrender  !  "  said  the  officer. 

"  I  suppose  there  is  no  help  for  it,"  replied  Somers. 

"  Not  the  least ;  resistance  would  be  useless." 

"  I  surrender." 

"  Go  down,  then,  if  you  please." 

Somers  descended  the  ladder  to  the  garret,  where  he 
found  Colonel  Roman  and  half  a  dozen  cavalrymen. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  are  taken,  since  you  did  not  wish  to 
be  taken,"  said  the  planter. 

*'  I  could  not  very  w^ell  help  myself." 

The  lieutenant  led  the  way  down  stairs  to  the  library, 
which  was  the  largest  room  in  the  house,  and  in  Mhich 
the  seven  guerillas,  now  disarmed,  were  held  by  their 
captors. 

"  Well,  Yank,  you  be  counted  in  with  us,"  said  Tur- 
kin,  with  a  malicious  grin. 

"  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  escaping  from  your  hands, 
if  nothing  more,"  replied  Somers. 

"  See  here,  Yank  ;  I  cal'lated  to  shoot  you  after  sup- 
per, but  I  reckon  we'll  all  hang  together." 


THE   FORTUNES    OF    A    STAFF    OFFICER.  291 

'•  I  thiuk  uot,"  interposed  the  lieutenant ;  "  you  have 
said  enough  ah'eady  to  convince  me  that  this  gentleman 
does  not  belong  to  your  gang." 

'•  lie's  a  Yank  ;  Ave  took  him  over  ycuder,  and  he  be- 
louirs  to  some  jTrin'ral's  staff.  I  reckon  he's  a  irood 
haul,  and   I  ought  to  hev  the  credit  of  ketchin'  him." 

"  Your  accounts  will  be  settled  in  a  few  days  ;  and  I 
fancy  Colonel  Grayharae  will  hang  you  higher  than  Ha- 
nuiu,  when  he  understands  this  business." 

'•  Tliat  would  be  moighty  onhandsome,  arter  we  ketched 
the  Yankee  othcer." 

"  Your  name,  if  you  please,  sir,"  said  the  lieutenant, 
turning  to  the  prisoner. 

"  Captain  Thomas  Somers,"  replied  he,  at  the  same 
time  giving  his  official  position  and  connections. 

"  Y'ou  were  captured  by  these  men?" 

"  I  was  ;  "  and  Somers  detailed  the  particulars  of  the 
event.  "  Major  de  Banyan  was  shot  at  the  same  time," 
lie  added,  turning  to  Turkin,  who,  he  hoped,  would  en- 
deavor to  improve  his  prospects  by  telling  what  had 
become  of  his  friend. 

"  I  shot  him,"  said  Gragg  ;  "  and  if  I'm  to  be  hung 
fur  that,  I  cal'hite  it  won't  be  safe  to  tight  the  Y'anks 
much  lousier." 

"  "Was  he  killed?  "  asked  the  lieutenant. 

"  I  reckon  he  Avan't ;  we  got  him  over  the  creek  ; 
there  he  gin  out,  and  we  left  him,  and  stivered  back  arter 


292  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

his  boss.  That's  when  we  took  this  Yank ;  but  Turkin 
shot  his  hoss  instid  of  him." 

"  'Was  the  major  dead  when  you  left  him?" 

*'  Not  jest  then  ;  but  I  cal'late  he  didn't  stand  it  long." 

Somers's  worst  fears  in  regard  to  his  friend  seemed  to 
be  confirmed.  To  the  questions  of  the  officer  he  gave 
true  answers,  until  the  history  of  the  guerillas'  move- 
ments up  to  the  time  of  their  arrival  at  the  mansion  of 
the  planter  had  been  elicited. 

"  I  was  made  the  cat's  paw  of  these  men,  who  wished 
to  procure  a  supper,  and  to  rob  the  house  Avithout  ex- 
posing themselves  to  detection.  Their  purpose  was  to 
get  the  family  out  of  the  house,''  continued  Somers. 
"  You  did  not  find  your  friends  from  Savannah  at  the 
next  house — 'did  you.  Colonel  Roman?" 

"  I  did  not  expect  to  find  them  there.  Was  that  your 
scheme  ?  " 

"  You  bet  it  wan't,  kun'l,"  exclaimed  Turkin,  as 
though  he  feared  Somers  would  obtain  more  credit  than 
he  deserved.  "  That's  some  of  my  thinkin',  kun'l.  The 
Yank  ain't  so  good  on  tricks  as  I  be.  I  told  him  what 
to  write  on  that  keerd.  The  Yank  is  great  at  writiu', 
but  I'm  some  for  plannin'." 

"Did  you  read  what  he  wrote  on  the  card?"  a^^kcd 
Colonel  Roman,  who  could  not  help  laughing  at  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  wretch. 

''  I  reckon  I  didn't ;  I  ain't  much  at  readin'  writin'." 


THE    FORTUNES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  293 

"  I  will  read  it  to  you,"  added  the  planter,  taking  the 
card  from  his  pocket :  " '  These  villains  mean  to  rob 
your  Jwitse  after  snppcr  ;  cjct  a  force  and  capture  them.''  " 

"  Is  that  what  he  writ?"  demanded  Tm-kin,  in  a  fear- 
ful rage. 

"  It  is.     Tlio  cat's  paw  had  a  fang." 

*'  Then  I'll  hang  him." 

*'  You  will  be  hung  yourself  first." 

Everything  was  explained ;  and  now  came  up  the 
question  in  regard  to  the  disposition  of  Somers.  The 
lieutenant  declared  he  had  no  authority  to  discharge  the 
prisoner,  who  was  a  Union  officer ;  but  he  would  report 
the  case  to  his  superiors. 

*'  That's  inter  yer,  Yank,"  said  Turkin.  "  You'll  go 
with  us." 

Colonel  Roman  interposed  to  prevent  Somers's  longer 
remaining  in  the  company  of  the  villains.  The  pris- 
oner gave  his  parole  for  three  days,  and  the  officer  left 
him  with  the  planter,  who  promised  to  go  with  him  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  rebel  army  within  that  time. 
The  lieutenant  then  departed  with  his  prisoners,  and 
Somers  was  treated  as  a  guest  in  the  house  of  the 
colonel. 

■r 

25* 


294  FiGHTixG  Joe,  on 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE  BLOOD-HOUNDS  ON  THE  TRACK. 

(\V'N  one  week  from  the  day  on  which  Somers  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Colonel  Roman,  he  was  in- 
side of  the  stockade  at  Andersonville.  It  so 
happened  that  the  general  officer  with  whom 
rested  the  decision  in  the  case  of  the  prisoner,  was  a  per- 
sonal and  political  opponent  of  the  planter,  and  the 
colonel  had  no  influence  Avitli  him.  An  appeal  was 
made  to  higher  authority,  but  it  was  unavailing ;  and 
Somers  was  hurried  away  to  that  miserable  place,  where 
officers  and  soldiers  died  by  thousands,  of  sheer  inhu- 
manity. 

Colonel  Roman  promised  to  continue  his  exertions  for 
the  release  of  his  friend,  or,  if  he  could  not  obtain  that, 
for  better  treatment  than  had  usually  been  accorded  to 
prisoners  of  war  by  the  Confederacy.  It  is  quite  proba- 
ble that  he  did  so,  but  the  subject  of  his  intercession 
obtained  no  favor  on  account  of  it.  His  experience  at 
Andersonville  was  that  of  thousands  of  others.  It 
would  require  a  volume  to  narrate  it ;  and  the  sad  story 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  295 

has  been  so  often  toltl,  that  it  needs  not  a  repetition  here. 
The  whole  civilized  Avorld  condemns  the  barbarous  treat- 
ment of  prisoners  by  the  Confederacy. 

Week  after  week,  and  month  after  month,  dragged 
away  amid  suffering  and  privation,  until  Sherman's 
grand  march  to  the  sea  filled  the  rebels  with  terror  ;  and 
a  portion  of  the  prisoners  remaining  in  their  hands  were 
sent  to  Columbia,  South  Carolina.  Somers  was  among 
the  number.  lie  had  been  a  prisoner  for  nearly  five 
months,  and  his  health  was  already  much  impaired  by 
his  sufferings  ;  by  the  scanty  and  mean  food,  but  quite 
as  much  by  being  compelled  to  witness  the  misery  and 
death  which  prevailed  in  the  horrid  slaughter-pen  in 
which  he  had  been  confined.  Once  he  had  made  an  at- 
tempt to  escape,  but  had  been  hunted  down  and  recap- 
tured. 

He  arrived  at  Columbia  ;  but  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  not  to  stay  there.  It  was  sure  death  to  one  of  his 
temperament  to  live  such  a  dog's  life  as  that  to  which  he 
had  been  doomed.  It  was  better  to  be  shot  down  by  the 
sentinels,  or  even  to  be  torn  in  pieces  by  the  fangs  of  the 
merciless  blood-hounds,  than  to  die  by  inches  within  the 
camp  of  the  prisoners. 

Every  day  a  certain  number  of  prisoners,  paroled  for 
the  purpose,  were  allowed  to  go  out  after  wood,  for  two 
hours.  Those  who  were  thus  favored  '\vere  obliged  to 
sign  a  parole,  and  their  names  were  handed  to  the  officer 


296  FIGHTING    JOE,-  OR 

of  the  day,  who  was  authorized  to  permit  them  to  pass. 
When  Somers  found  an  opportunity  to  join  one  of  these 
parties,  he  gave  his  parole,  as  others  did  ;  and  even  his 
sufferitigs  had  not  so  far  demoralized  him  that  he  could 
violate  the  solemn  pledge.  He  went  out  with  the  others, 
but  immediately  returned  with  his  load  of  wood.  Has- 
tening to  the  officer  of  the  day,  he  told  him  he  had  done 
his  share  of  the  work,  and  requested  to  be  released  from 
his  parole,  which  Avas  then  given  back  to  him.  He  was 
now  free  from  his  obligation,  and  having  destroyed  the 
paper,  if  he  should  happen  to  be  recaptured  in  his 
attempt  to  escape,  it  could  not  be  brought  against  him  to 
subject  him  to  the  penalty  of  its  violation. 

Others  were  bringing  in  wood  and  timber,  and  passing 
out  again  for  more.  Somers  walked  out  with  the  rest. 
When  they  came  to  the  guard  they  were  carefully  exam- 
ined again,  to  see  that  none  but  paroled  officers  passed 
out.  They  gave  their  names,  and  the  sentinel  referred 
to  the  list  of  those  paroled  for  that  day,  and  if  it  was  all 
right,  they  were  allowed  to  pass. 

"Your  name?"  said  the  guard  to  Somers. 

The  prisoner  gave  it. 

*'  All  right,"  replied  the  sentinel,  who,  of  course,  found 
the  name  in  the  list. 

Somers  was  now  outside  of  the  camp,  and  discharged 
from  his  parole  ;  but  his  difficulties  had  only  just  com- 
menced, for  a  guard  of  eighty  men  was  stretched  around 


THE    FORTUSES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  297 

the  tract  of  woods  in  which  the  prisoners  were  at  work. 
He  walked  away  from  the  stockade  animated  by  a  hope, 
though  it  was  but  a  dim  one,  of  breathing  once  more 
the  air  of  freedom.  Intent  upon  tlie  object  before  him, 
be  passed  a  group  of  emaciated  forms,  whose  constitu- 
tions were  strong  enough  to  enable  them  to  overcome 
the  horrors  of  the  hospital,  in  which  they  were  still  pa- 
tients. 

"  Somers  !  "  exclaimed  one  of  them,  rushing  towards 

him. 

The  young  officer  turned,  and  in  the  tall,  pale,  attenu- 
ated person  who  addressed  him,  he  recognized  his  friend 
De  Banyan.  He  looked  like  a  wreck,  and  there  was 
little  to  remind  him  of  the  manly  and  noble  form  of  the 
major,  as  he  had  known  him  five  months  before.  ' 

''  De  Banyan  !  "  cried  Somers,  rushing  into  the  arms 
of  his  friend,  and  weeping  like  a  child  with  the  joy  he 
could  not  conceal. 

It  was  a  tender  and  a  touching  reunion,  and  even  the 
rebel  sentinels  did  not  interpose  to  separate  them. 

"  How  came  you  here?"  demanded  De  Banyan,  when 
the  first  emotions  of  the  happy  meeting  had  subsided. 

*'  I  was  captured  at  the  time  you  were  shot ;  but  I 
have  been  at  Andersonville  till  a  week  ago,"  replied 
Somers. 

"  I  have  been  in  the  hospital ;  that's  the  reason  I  did 
not  see  you." 


298  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

"  That  must  be  the  reasoD,"  replied  Somers,  in  a  lond 
tone  ;  and  then,  dropping  his  voice  to  a  whisper,  he  add- 
ed, "  I  am  going  to  escape  to-day." 

"  I  have  been  quite  sick,"  continued  the  major,  aloud. 
"  I  am  on  parole  "  —  in  a  whisper. 

"  Are  you  better?" 

"  Much  better ;  I  feel  pretty  well  now,"  said  the 
major.     "  Wait  half  an  hour  for  me  in  the  woods." 

"  I  will,"  replied  Somers,  as  he  moved  on. 

De  Banyan  soon  joined  him.  At  his  own  request  the 
surgeon  had  discharged  him,  and  he  had  taken  up  his 
parole.  With  a  basket  of  vials,  which  he  found  in  an 
ante-room  of  the  hospital,  he  walked  boldly  through  the 
guards,  who,  believing  him  still  to  be  a  paroled  prisoner, 
permitted  him  to  pass.  During  his  convalescence,  he 
had  been  employed  in  various  light  duties  connected 
with  the  hospital,  and  had  had  frequent  occasion  to  pass 
the  sentries,  so  that  no  suspicion  attached  to  him  after 
he  had  been  relieved  from  his  parole. 

With  Somers  he  Avalked  to  the  woods,  and  with  him 
chopped  and  gathered  sticks.  At  a  point  near  the  centre 
of  the  space  surrounded  by  the  sentinels,  they  found  a 
pine  tree,  whose  dense  foliage  promised  to  aiford  them 
the  shelter  they  required.  At  a  favorable  moment  Som- 
ers sprang  up  into  the  tree,  and  the  major  followed  him 
a  few  minutes  later.  Of  course  they  were  seen  by  their 
fellow-prisoners,  and  they  were  obliged  to  run  the  risk  of 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  299 

bein"-  exposed  by  any  one  of  them  who  was  vile  enough 
to  do  such  a  mean  act.  Men  have  been  known  at  Ander- 
sonville,  Columbia,  and  other  prison  camps,  to  stoop  to 
the  contemptible  and  cowardly  meanness  of  betraying  a 
comrade  under  such  circumstances ;  but  with  only  a  few 
rare  exceptions,  the  prisoners  were  too  manly  and  noble 
to  be  guilty  of  such  a  base  act. 

They  had  escaped  the  observation  of  the  soldiers,  who 
were  too  indolent,  or  too  far  off,  to  fiotice  what  took  place 
within  their  line.  The  only  duty  they  were  called  upon 
to  perform,  as  they  seemed  to  regard  it,  was  to  prevent 
any  of  the  prisoners  from  passing  beyond  the  bounds 
allotted  to  them.  The  two  hours  in  which  the  men  were 
allowed  to  gather  wood  expired  soon  after  Somers  and 
De  Banyan  ascended  the  tree. 

"  Good  by.  Captain  ;  report  me  at  home,  if  you  get 
through,"  said  a  Massachusetts  officer,  who  stood  at  the 
foot  of  the  tree  when  the  prisoners  were  ordered  back  to 
the  camp. 

"  I  will,"  replied  Somers,  M'ho  knew  the  officer's  ad- 
dress. 

The  prisoners,  laden  with  their  sticks  of  timber  and 
bundles  of  wood,  were  driven  back  to  the  camp,  to  en- 
dure other  weeks  and  months  of  suffering,  or  to  die  there, 
as  many  had  done  before.  Somers  and  the  major  kept 
perfectly  still  until  :th'e  guard  had  passed  the  tree,  and 
disappeared  from  theii'  view. 


300  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

"  TVe  shall  be  missed  before  long,"  said  Somers. 
"  We  Avill   not  stop   here,"  replied   De  Banyan,  as   he 
descended  the  tree   and  lay  down  on  the  ground  at  the 
foot  of  it. 

Somers  followed  him,  lying  down  by  his  side.  Hav- 
ing satisfied  themselves  that  they  had  not  been  observed, 
tliey  crawled  away  until  the  slope  of  a  hill  concealed 
them  from  the  view  of  the  camp,  when  they  ventured  to 
stand  upright,  like  men,  and  press  forward  for  life  and 
liberty.  They  continued  to  walk  in  a  southerly  direc- 
tion till  they  came  to  a  creek,  over  which  they  swam,  in 
the  hope  that  the  water  would  interrupt  the  scent  of  the 
blood-hounds  which  would  be  put  on  their  track  as  soon 
as  their  absence  was  discovered. 

It  was  a  vain  hope.  They  were  in  a  kind  of  swampy 
jungle,  not  more  than  half  a  mile  from  the  creek,  when 
they  heard  the  fearful  cry  of  the  dogs. 

"  We  are  lost ! "  exclaimed  Somers,  appalled  at  the 
horrible  sounds. 

"  No ! "  replied  De  Banyan,  with  his  old  energy. 
"Don't^give  it  up!" 

"  I  won't,  if  you  do  not,"  added  Somers,  inspired  with 
courao-e  by  the  firmness  and  self-possession  of  his  friend. 

"  Find  a  club,  if  you  can  !  " 

They  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  a  couple  of  sticks, 
soaked  full  of  water,  with  which  they  hoped  to  make  a 
good  fight. 


THE   FOIiTUXES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  301 

"  Shall  ^Ye  climb  a  tree?"  asked  Somers. 
"  You  are  lost  if  you  do,"  replied  De  Banyan,  as  he 
took  from  his  pocket  a  roll  of  cord,  which  he  had  appro- 
priated in  the  hospital  for  another  purpose. 

Unrolling  it,  he  cut  it  into  two  pieces,  with  one  of 
which  he  made  a  slip-noose,  and  directed  Somers  to  do 
the  same  with  the  other.  The  dogs  were  still  some  dis- 
tance from  the  spot,  and  the  men  in  pursuit  seemed  to 
be  una'ble  to  follow  them  on  their  horses,  which  explained 
the  major's  policy  in  choosing  a  swamp  for  his  flight. 
Selecting  a  narrow  pass  between  two  clumps  of  bushes, 
which  had  been  beaten  into  a  path,  he  stretched  the  slip- 
noose  over  it,  just  as  boys  in  the  country  set  snares  for 
foxes  and  rabbits.  Somers  did  precisely  the  same  thing 
in  another  locality. 

De  Banyan  then  bent  down  a  small  sapling,  so  that 
the  top  of  it  came  over  the  snare,  and  attached  the  end 
of  the  cord  to  it.  The  little  tree  was  held  down  by 
weaving  the  branches  into  the  bushes,  just  strong  enough 
to  hold  it  down,  but  so«  that  any  force  beyond  its  own 
elasticity  would  disengage  it.  The  contrivance  formed 
what  is  sometimes  called  a  "  twitch-up  snare."  Somers 
knew  all  about  it,  and  set  his  own  in  the  same  manner. 

By  this  time  the  dogs  were  upon  them,  and  each  <  f 
them  siepped  belimd  the  trap  he  had  set.  The  hounds 
made  directly  towards  them,  two  by  one  path  and  one  by 
the  other. 

26 


302  FIGIITIXG  JOE,    OR 

"  Come  on,  doggy,"  said  De  Banyan,  as  he  stood 
coolly  ■svaiting  the  issue  of  the  enterprise.  "  Stand  by 
with  your  club,  Somers,  if  it  fails." 

"  I  am  all  ready,"  replied  Somers,  as  he  nerved  his 
arm  for  the  conflict,  if  one  should  be  necessary. 

On  rushed  the  blood-hounds,  with  their  fiendish  yelp, 
the  one  that  approached  De  Banyan  being  a  few  feet  in 
advance  of  the  others.  He  dashed  into  the  narrow  path, 
thrustino;  his  head  throuijh  the  noose,  drawino;  it  tiij-ht 
around  his  neck,  and  detaching  the  tree.  The  elasticity 
of  the  sapling  gave  him  a  tremendous  twitch,  and  lifted 
his  fore  legs  from  the  ground.  The  spring  was  not  strong 
enGU2^h  to  hold  his  whole  weis^ht,  and  the  hound  hunor 
by  the  neck,  partially  supported  by  )iis  hind  legs. 

Somers's  snare  was  not  quite  so  successful ;  but  the 
spring  choked  the  dog,  and  held  him  fast.  The  third 
hound,  dodging  the  obstruction  in  his  path,  rushed 
towards  him  from  another  direction  ;  but  De  Banyan  was 
at  his  side  by  this  time,  and  with  a  few  heavy  blows, 
they  killed  the  ugly  beast.  Of  the  other  two,  one  Avas 
nearly  choked  to  death,  but  both  were  quickly  despatched 
w^ith  the  clubs. 

"  That  job  is  done,"  said  De  Banyan. 

"And  well  done,"  replied  Somers,  as  they  resumed 
their  fliorht. 


I  THE  FORTUNES   OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  303 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE    PILGRIMAGE   TO   THE    SEA. 

(V/^T  was    not  very  easy  travelling   in   the    swamp, 
but  it  had  this   advantage,  that  they  could  not 


i 


(\L^\  he  pursued  by  cavalry.  They  had  silenced  the 
howl  of  the  dogs,  and  their  pursuers  could  have 
no  idea  of  the^direction  they  had  taken.  The  killing  of 
the  blood-hounds  gave  the  fugitives  all  the  advantage,  and 
they  "  doubled"  on  the  hunters  by  returning  to  the  creek 
which  they  had  crossed  before.  After  following  the 
stream  for  about  five  miles,  as  there  were  no  signs  of  a 
pursuit  in  this  direction,  they  halted  to  wait  for  the  pro- 
tecting shades  of  night,  when  they  hoped  to  find  some 
of  the  negroes,  whom  recaptured  prisoners  had  uniformly 
represented  as  kind  and  devoted  to  the  last  degree. 

It  would  be  several  hours  before  the  journey  could  be 
safely  resumed,  and  our  reunited  friends  had  much  to 
say  of  the  past  and  tlie  future.  Each  wished  to  know 
the  history  of  the  other  since  they  had  parted.  Somers 
accounted  for  himself  first,  and  De  Banyan  then  ex- 
hibited the  scar  of  an  ugly  wound   in  the  head,  which 


304  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

was  the  one  given  him  by  the  guerilla.  It  had  knocked 
him  from  his  horse ;  but  he  had  soon  recovered  his 
senses,  and  the  villains  had  conducted  him  over  the 
creek  where  he  fainted.  When  he  came  to  himself,  his 
captors  had  left  him  ;  but  he  was  soon  picked  up  by  a 
squad  of  the  regular  rebel  cavalry,  and  sent  first  to  the 
hospital,  then  to  Columbia,  where  he  had  been  from  that 
time.  He  had  fully  recovered  from  his  wound,  but  his 
health  was  much  impaired  by  hard  usage  and  poor  food. 
He  had  gone  to  the  hospital  to  die,  as  he  thought ;  but 
his  vigorous  constitution  enabled  him  to  survive  the 
medical  treatment. 

He  had  been  too  feeble  to  attempt  to  escape,  as 
hundreds  of  others  had  done  ;  but  he  was  now  in  better 
condition  than  he  had  been  before  since  his  capture.  In 
the  hospital,  by  the  exercise  of  his  ingenuity,  he  had 
obtained  better  food,  which  had,  in  a  measure,  improved 
his  health.  The  sight  of  Somers  had  given  him  new 
life  and  hope  ;  and  though  he  was  but  a  shadow  of  his 
former  self,  he  felt  able  to  undergo  all  perils  and  priva- 
tions on  the  road  to  liberty. 

"  I  think  we  have  avoided  our  pursuers,"  said  Somers, 
when  the  major  had  finished  his  narrative.  "  What 
shall  we  do  next  ?  " 

'  "  Keep  clear  of  the  rebels,  if  we    can ;    if  we  can't, 
bluff  them  off,"  replied  De  Banyan,  hopefully. 

"  But  where  shall  we  20  ?  " 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  305 

*'  We  must  take  the  best  route  to  the  sea ;  perhaps 
the  nearest  is  not  the  best.  A  great  many  men  have 
escaped  from  Camp  Sorghum,  but  I  believe  one  half  of 
them  have  been  caudit  a^rain." 

o  o 

*'  Then  our  chances  are  not  first  rate." 

"They  are  very  good,  if  avc  manage  well.  So  far  as 
I  know,  all  who  have  had  the  escape  fever  attempt  to 
reach  the  sea  by  the  Santee  River  ;  and  I  fancy  that  river 
is  pretty  closely  watched  now." 

'*  Then  it  is  not  best  to  go  that  way." 

"  No  :  about  twenty  miles  from  us  to  the  southward, 
the  road  to  Augusta  crosses  the  Edisto  River.  I  am  in 
favor  of  taking  that  route,  because  I  don't  know  that  any 
of  the  prisoners  have  gone  that  way." 

The  point  was  settled,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  dark,  the 
fugitives  started  on  their  journey  to  the  sea.  Before 
night  they  had  decided  upon  the  dii-ection  of  the  Augusta 
road,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  it.  Both  of  them  were 
in  rags,  and  they  were  wet  and  cold.  They  Jiad  eaten 
nothing  since  morning,  and  the  greatest  obstacle  with 
which  they  had  now  to  contend  was  their  own  feebleness. 
They  reached  the  road  ;  but  though  the  night  was  not 
half  gone,  they  were  completely  exhausted.  They  were 
too  cold  to  sit  down  and  rest,  and  the  exercise  of  walking 
seemed  to  impart  no  warmth  to  their  weak  and  almost 
bloodless  frames.  They  were  not  in  condition  to  encoun- 
ter the  hardships  in  their  path. 
26* 


806  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

■  De  Banyan,  with  his  soul  of  iron,  gave  out  first,  and 
actually  sank  down  by  the  side  of  the  road.  Somers 
could  hardly  keep  from  weeping  when  he  realized  the 
condition  of  his  companion.  He  was  not  much  stronger 
himself,  and  the  enterprise  promised  to  be  an  utter  fail- 
ure. It  was  the  month  of  December ;  the  air  was 
chilly,  and  the  ground  cold  and  wet,  and  something 
must  be  done  for  the  major,  or  he  would  perish  before 
morning. 

Somers  was  weak  in  body,  but  he  was  still  strong  in 
spirit.  The  condition  of  his  friend  appealed  to  him  with 
an  eloquence  which  he  could  not  resist,  and  moved  him 
to  greater  energy.  Taking  from  the  fence  a  number  of 
rails,  he  made  a  kind  of  platform  of  them  in  a  concealed 
spot  in  the  field,  Avhich  he  covered  Avith  leaves,  twigs, 
and  cornstalks,  obtained  from  an  adjacent  lot,  until  he 
had  made  a  tolerably  dry  and  comfortable  bed.  He 
conducted  the  major  to  his  new  quarters,  and  laid  him 
on  the  couch  he  had  prepared. 

"  Somers,"  said  De  Banyan,  feebly. 

"  What  shall  I  do  for  you  now  ?  " 

"  Nothing  more,  Somers.     I  am  used  up." 

"  You  will  be  better  soon." 

*'  Never,  my  dear  fellow." 

"  Don't  give  up." 

"  I  wouldn't  give  up  while  there  is  a  fibre  left  of  me 
to  lean  on  ;  but  I  am  ahiiost  gone.    Somers,  take  care  of 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  307 

yourself  now.  You  can  do  me  no  good ;  follow  this 
road  till  you  conic  to  the  river,  and  then  find  a  boat,  and 
float  down  to  the  blockading  ships." 

"  I  shall  not  leave  you,  Dc  Banyan,"  exclaimed 
Somers,  horrified  by  the  suggestion. 

*'  You  can't  do  a  thinu:  for  nie.  I  shall  die  in  a  few 
hourd.  I  didn't  think  I  was  so  near  gone  when  I  left 
the  camp,  or  1  wouldn't  have  burdened  you  with  the 
care  of  me." 

''  I  should  have  been  caught  before  this  time,  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  yon.  I  will  never  desert  you,  De 
Banyan.  God  would  not  suffer  me  to  live,  if  I  should 
do  so  mean  a  thing !  "  replied  Somers,  earnestly. 

"  As  you  love  me,  Somers,  save  yourself.  It  would 
be  the  greatest  favor  you  could  do  me  to  insure  your 
own  safety,"  replied  the  sufferer,  in  quivering  tones. 

"  I  will  not  leave  you,  but  I  will  save  you.  I  can 
and  will,"  added  Somers,  Avitli  energy.  "  You  shall  not 
die.  Keep  a  good  heart  for  a  little  while,  and  you  shall 
be  saved." 

'*  I  will  keep  up  as  well  as  I  can  ;  but  when  a  strong 
man,  like  me,  sinks,  he  generally  goes  all  at  once.  Leave 
me,  I  beg  of  you,  Somers.  It  is  the  last  favor  I  have  to 
ivAi.  of  you." 

'•  I  would  not  if  you  begged  it  on  your  bended  knee. 
I  must  leave  you  for  a  time,  but  you  shall  be  saved,  if 
God  will  permit." 


308  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  God  bless  you,  Somers,"  faintly  ejaculated  the  suf- 
ferer. 

Somers  left  him,  and  hastened  back  to  the  road,  care- 
fully noticing  the  path,  so  that  he  could  easily  find  the 
spot  again.  When  he  reached  it,  he  ■was  almost  over- 
come by  his  emotions,  and  by  his  own  exhaustion.  He 
■wanted  strength,  at  that  trying  moment,  more  than  ever 
before  in  his  life  —  strength  to  save  himself  and  his 
friend.  Ue  knelt  down  upon  the  cold  ground,  and 
prayed  for  strengtli  with  an  earnestness  which  had  never 
before  burned  in  his  soul.  lie  trusted  in  God,  and  he 
asked  for  guidance  in  this  most  trying  experience  of 
his  life. 

He  rose  from  his  knees.  He  knew  that  the  good 
Father  had  heard  him  —  was  with  him.  Strength  came, 
if  not  to  his  muscles,  in  the  increased  earnestness  of  his 
purpose.  lie  walked  along  the  road  till  he  came  to  the 
house,  which  the  cornfields  he  had  seen  assured  him 
could  not  be  far  distant.  It  was  the  mansion  of  a  large 
plantation,  and  beyond  it  was  its  village  of  negro  huts. 
The  blacks  were  friendly,  but  he  could  hardly  expect  to 
find  among  them  Avhat  he  required  to  restore  the  waning 
life  of  De  Banyan. 

Somers  was  a  desperate  man.  It  seemed  to  him  then 
that  tlie  rebels  had  no  rights  which  he  was  bound  to 
respect.  Throwing  off  his  dilapidated  boots,  he  ap- 
proached the  house,  and  went  to  one  of  the  windows. 


rilK    lORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  309 

To  his  surprise  he  ibiiiul  it  partly  opeu.  AVilh  all  neces- 
sary care  he  raised  the  sash,  and  got  into  the  house. 
There  was  just  light  enough  in  the  room  to  enable  him 
to  find  his  way  to  the  mantel,  on  which  were  a  lamp  and 
'matches.  He  lighted  the  lamp  and  looked  about  him. 
There  was  a  bed  in  the  room,  on  which  lay  an  object 
which  would  have  frozen  the  blood  in  the  veins  of  a  timid 
person. 

It  was  a  corpse,  the  eyes  covered  with  cents,  enclosed 
in  paper,  and  the  jaw  tied  up  Avitli  a  handkerchief. 
Somers  glanced  at  it :  he  was  startled,  but  not  appalled  ; 
for  death,  in  its  most  horrid  forms,  was  so  familiar  to 
him  that  he  did  not  shrink  from  the  sight.  He  had  a 
mission  to  perform,  and  he  proceeded  to  search  the  room 
for  what  he  wanted.  In  a  large  closet  he  found  two  full 
suits  of  men's  clothing,  one  of  them  a  rebel  uniform  ;  and 
he  concluded  that  the  deceased  had  been  an  officer  in  the 
army.  On  a  table,  with  a  number  of  vials,  he  found  a 
bottle  of  brandy,  of  which  he  drank  a  few  swallows 
himself. 

Dropping  the  clothing  out  of  the  window,  where  he 
could  take  it  at  his  leisure,  he  continued  the  search,  and 
found  a  couple  of  revolvers  in  a  drawer,  with  caps  and 
cartridges,  which  he  appropriated.  He  then  left  the 
room,  and  in  the  hall  found  an  overcoat ;  but  the  most 
needed  articles  were  bacon  and  bread,  of  Avhich  he  dis- 
covered a  plentiful  supply  in  another  room.  Filling  a 
basket  with  the  food,  he  hastened  to  make  \\\i\  escape. 


310  FiGHTixo  JOE,  on 

"Is  that  yon,  Alfred?"  said  the  voice  of  a  woman  on 
the  second  floor. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Somers. 

"  Is  everything  right?  " 

"Yes." 

"Don't  you  think  you  had  better  shut  the  windows? 
I  am  afraid  some  creature  will  get  into  the  room." 

"  I  will,"  answered  Somers,  afraid  to  use  many  words. 
♦  He  crept  back  into  the  chamber  of  death,  and  respect- 
ing the  fears  of  the  woman,  who  might  be  the  wife  or 
the  mother  of  the  deceased,  he  closed  three  of  the  four 
windows,  and  when  he  had  passed  out  himself,  shut  the 
remaining  one.  With  tlie  utmost  care,  he  departed  from 
the  house  laden  with  the  precious  articles  he  had  ob- 
tained. It  was  one  o'clock  at  night,  as  he  had  seen  by  a 
clock  in  the  house,  and  all  v/as  still.  At  a  safe  distance 
from  the  mansion,  he  took  off  the  rags  he  wore,  and  put 
on  the  rebel  uniform,  leaving  the  other  suit,  which  was 
heavier  and  warmer,  for  De  Banyan.  Thus  relieved  of 
a  portion  of  Lis  burden,  he  hastened  to  the  couch  of  his 
perishing  companion. 

V'  How  do  you  feel,  my  best  friend  ?  "  said  Somers,  as 
he  bent  over  the  sick  man. 

"  Is  that  you,  Somers?  I  hoped  you  had  gone,"  re- 
plied the  major,  very  faintly. 

"  No  :  I  am  come  Avith  life  and  hope,"  added  Somers, 
as  he  placed  the  bottle  of  brandy  to  the  sick  man's  lips. 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  311 

He  drauk  all  tliat  his  faithful  companion  dared  to  give 
him.     It  warmed  his  stomach,  and  gave  him  new  life. 

"  God  bless  you,  Somers  !  I  was  thinking  that  brandy 
would  save  my  life.  I  felt  as  though  my  vitals  were 
frozen." 

"  Could  you  get  up  for  a  moment  or  two  ?  " 

"  O,  yes  !  I  feel  like  a  new  man,"  answered  the  pa- 
tient, who  was  not  only  strengthened  but  exhilarated  by 
the  strong  liquor  he  had  taken. 

*•  Let  me  put  these  clothes  on  you." 

"  Clothes?"  said  the  major,  as  he  rose  to  his  feet. 

*'  Yes  :  I  have  a  whole  suit  for  you,"  replied  Somers, 
as  he  assisted  him  to  put  on  the  dress  he  had  brought. 

They  were  warm  and  dry,  and  the  poor  fellow  mani- 
fested a  childish  delight  as  he  put  them  on.  They  were 
rather  small,  but  they  were  warm  and  comfortable.  To 
these  was  added  the  overcoat. 

"Now,  could  you  eat  bacon  and  bread?"  asked 
Somers. 

"  Could  I  eat  them?     I  could  if  I  had  them." 

"  You  have  them,"  replied  his  attentive  friend,  as  he 
brought  the  basket  to  his  couch. 

They  both  ate  heartily,  and  when  they  had  finished, 
De  Banyan  declared  that  he  could  walk  ten  miles  more 
that  night. 

Somers  knew  that  he  could  not — that  he  was  under  the 
influence  of  the  brandy,  and  over-estimated  his  strength. 


312  *  FIGHTIXG    JOE,    OR 

When  he  left  the  liospital  lie  was  as  feeble  as  an  Infant, 
and  nothing  but  the  flashing  hope  of  freedom  could  have 
sustained  his  weak  body  in  the  battle  with  the  blood- 
hounds, and  the  walk  from  the  creek.  His  friend  deter- 
mined to  keep  him  quiet  for  a  few  days,  if  possible, 
assured  that  otherwise  the  enterprise  must  fail. 

"Do  you  feel  warm?"  asked  Somers,  when  he  had 
told  the  story  of  his  visit  to  the  house. 

"  All  but  my  feet,"  replied  the  patient. 

"  I  will  warm  them,"  added  the  devoted  nurse,  as  he 
took  from  his  pocket  a  pair  of  socks,  which  he  had  trans- 
ferred from  the  old  to  the  new  suit.  "  These  are  my 
fighting  socks,  but  they  shall  do  the  best  vvork  now  they 
have  ever  done." 

De  Banyan  protested,  but  Somers  persisted,  and  put 
the  cherished  mementoes  of  Lilian  upon  his  feet. 

"  Now  go  to  sleep,"  continued  Somers,  as  he  adjusted 
the  overcoat,  and  placed  the  rags  —  of  which  the  major 
had  divested  himself — on  his  feet. 

He  went  to  sleep,  and  Somers  departed  on  an  explor- 
ing expedition.  In  a  pine  forest,  half  a  mile  distant,  he 
found  an  old  shanty,  which  had  been  used  for  men  en- 
gaged in  drawing  pitcli  from  the  trees.  To  this  he  trans- 
ferred his  patient,  and  kept  him  there  for  a  week.  The 
negroes  on  the  plantation  discovered  the  fugitives,  but 
they  were  faithful  friends,  and  supplied  them  with  food 
and  bed-clothes,  so  that  they  were  quite  comfortable. 


THE    FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF  'OFFIC Ell.  313 

From  these  devoted  allies  of  the  Union  army,  Somers 
learned  that  the  deceased  person  he  had  seen  in  the  house 
■svas  the  son  of  the  planter,  who  had  been  sent  home 
wounded.  The  articles  taken  had  been  missed,  but  the 
robbery  was  attributed  to  a  couple  of  negrQcs  who  had 
run  away  at  the  time. 

De  Banyan  gained  strength  each  day,  now  that  he  was 
well  clothed  and  well  fed.  After  a  week's  rest,  the  fugi- 
tives started  again,  guided  by  a  negro  belonging  to  the 
plantation,  who  conducted  them  to  the  river,  and  pro- 
vided them  with  a  boat.  Night  after  night  they  floated 
down  the  stream,  guided  and  fed  by  the  negroes,  till  they 
reached  the  sea,  and  went  on  board  of  one  of  the  block- 
aders. 

Once  more  they  were  beneath  the  old  flag ;  once  more 
they  were  in  the  hands  of  friends  ;  and  from  their  hearts 
went  up  the  song  of  jubilee  to  Him  who  had  guided  and 
strengthened  them  in  their  pilgrimage  from  darkness  and 
death  to  light  and  liberty.  When  they  reached  Port 
Royal,  they  heard  of  the  capture  of  Savannah  and  the 
conquering  march  of  Sherman  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea. 
Then  they  sang  a  new  song  of  jubilee,  for  the  days  of 
the  rebellion  were  numbered. 
27 


314  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

MAJOR    SOMERS    AND    FRIENDS. 

OjMERS  and  De  Banyan  proceeded  from  Port 
Royal  to  Washington,  by  the  vcay  of  Fortress 
Monroe.  "  Fii^htino^  Joe  "  "vvas  no  longer  in 
the  field  of  active  operations,  and  our  officers  resigned 
their  positions  on  the  staff.  The  doughty  general  had 
T\'on  the  admiration  of  the  nation ;  the  present  genera- 
tion will  gratefully  remembei'  his  efficient  services,  and 
posterity  will  enroll  his  name  among  the  ablest  and 
bravest  defenders  of  the  Union. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  major's  regiment  had 
expired,  and  it  had  been  sent  home,  and  mustered  out. 
Consequently  he  v.-as  out  of  employment.  Somers  was 
determined  that  he  should  not  remain  so  long.  There 
was  a  certain  Senator  Guilford  in  Washington,  who  con- 
sidered himself  under  strong  obligations  to  the  young 
officer,  and  Somers  immediately  paid  his  respects  to  the 
distinguished  man.  He  was  warmly  greeted,  and  when 
he  had  told  his  story,  he  was  bold  enough  to  ask  a  great 
favor  for  his  friend. 


THK    FOETUSES    OF   A    STAFF    OFFICER.  31') 

*'  I  will  do  what  I  can  for  him,  Captain  SonKM-.-;,  you 
may  be  sure.  I  remember  iiim  well,  and  I  have  always 
heard  excellent  accounts  of  him  from  your  friend  tlie 
general." 

*'  There  is  not  a  better  man  in  the  service,  sir ;  and  he 
is  worthy  of  any  place  which  the  government  can  give 
him,"  replied  Somers,  warmly. 

'**  I  know  he  is.  By  the  way,  captain,  a  certain  gen- 
eral called  upon  me  in  relation  to  your  affairs  more  than 
a  year  ago." 

*'  Indeed,  sir?"  And  Somers  understood  that  he  was 
indebted  to  the  senator  for  his  position  in  the  regular 
army.     "  I   am   very  grateful   to   you,   Mr.  Guilford." 

"  Don't  mention  it ;  my  daughter,  whose  life  you 
saved,  thinks  I  have  not  half  paid  the  debt  yet." 

"  You  have  more  than  paid  it,  sir  ;  and  if  I  had  known 
that  I  was  indebted  to  you  for  my  position,  I  should 
hardly  have  dared  to  speak  to  you  in  behalf  of  Major  de 
Banyan." 

"  Don't  be  modest,  Captain  Somers.  I  have  no  scruples 
whatever  in  asking  favors  for  such  oflicers  as  yourself 
and  your  friend.  I  invariably  refuse  to  say  a  word  for 
any  military  man,  unless  I  know  that  he  is  thoroughly 
meritorious.  But,  captain,  you  do  not  ask  for  my 
daughter." 

'*  I  heard  she  was  married,  and  lived  in  Philadelphia," 
replied  Somers,  with  some  confusion. 


316  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

"  That  is  the  case  ;  she  often  speaks  of  you,  and  when 
you  pass  through  Philadelphia  you  must  see  her." 

"  I  will  certainly  do  so,  sir,"  replied  the  captain,  as  he 
took  his  leave. 

Three  days  after  he  received  a  note  from  the  senator, 
with  De  Banyan's  commission  as  a  major  in  the  regular 
army.  He  hastened  to  communicate  the  news  to  his 
friend.  The  gratitude  of  the  major  knew  no  bounds, 
and  he  declared  that  Somers  had  been  more  to  him  than 
all  the  rest  of  the  world.  A  furlough  of  thirty  days  had 
been  granted  them,  and  they  started,  the  one  for  Pinch- 
brook,  and  the  other  for  Tennessee,  in  search  of  his  son, 
who  had  returned  to  Nashville  when  the  army  moved 
from  Chattanooga. 

On  the  way  home  Somers  called  upon  the  senator  s 
daughter,  and  found  her  as  pleasing,  as  pretty,  and  as 
grateful  as  ever ;  but  his  heart  was  farther  north,  and 
he  hastened  to  the  waiting  arms  of  his  loving  friends. 
Lilian  wept  with  joy  when  she  saw  him,  and  grandmother 
Ashford  insisted  upon  telling  about  the  defence  of  Boston 
during  the  '•  last  war." 

"  Lilian,  I  have  lost  my  socks,"  said  Somers,  when 
Mrs.  Ashford  had  safely  returned  to  their  homes  the 
firemen  who  went  out  to  cut  away  the  bridges  in  case  of 
an  invasion.  "  I  had  to  put  them  on  my  friend  De 
Banyan's  feet,  when  he  had  nearly  perished  from  cold 
and  exhaustion." 


THE   FORTUXES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  317 

*'  I  am  so  glad  yoa  did  !  " 

'*  I  suffered  myself,  iu  Aadcrsonville  and  Columbia, 
rather  than  wear  them  out,  but  I  coidd  not  resist  the 
appeal  of  my  suiferiug  friend." 

"  I  am  gUul  you  did  not." 

"  De  Banyan  is  a  noble  fellow,"  added  Somers. 

"  Shall  I  never  see  him?  " 

*' I  hope  you  will;"  and  she  did,  as  thp  reader  will 
soon  learn. 

Somers  went  to  Pinchbrook,  and  was  welcomed  as  one 
-who  had  come  forth  from  the  grave.  His  mother  wept 
over  him,  his  father  rejoiced  over  him,  and  Captain 
Barney,  the  friend  of  the  family,  "  crowed  "  over  him. 
He  spent  his  thirty  days  between  Boston  and  Pinchbrook, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  reported  for  duty  in  Wash- 
ington. He  was  ordered  to  join  the  regiment  in  which 
he  hiul  been  commisioned,  then  in  the  line  before  Peters- 
burg. In  the  bloody  battle  for  the  recovery  of  Fort 
Steadmau,  which  had  been  captured  by  the  rebels  iu  a 
ni"-ht  attack,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  mount  the  ram- 
part,  and  turn  the  tide  against  the  enemy.  He  fought 
with  desperation,  and  urged  his  men  to  deeds  of  valor, 
which  did  much  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 

For  his  heroic  conduct  on  that  eventful  morning,  he 
was  made  a  major.     De  Banyan  was   there  also,  and 
what  one  did  for  his  company  the  other  did  lor  his  regi- 
ment.    The   brave   Tennesseean  was  not  forgotten   nor 
27* 


318  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

overlooked.  His  merit  was  promptly  recognized,  and 
"vvhen  the  conquering  host  moved  forward  in  pursuit  of 
the  flying  brigades  of  the  rebels,  he  was  a  brigadier 
general  of  volunteers. 

Then  came  to  them  in  the  field,  and  then  flashed  over 
the  telegraph  wires  to  all  parts  of  the  nation,  the  thrilling 
intelligence  that  Richmond  was  captured.  Still  the  in- 
domitable Grant  drew  his  gripe  lighter  and  tighter  upon 
the  scattering  hordes  of  the  Rebellion  ;  still  Meade  pressed 
on,  and  still  Sheridan  thundered  over  and  through  the 
shattered  host  of  treason,  until  Lee  surrendered  the  rem- 
nant of  the  vaunted  army  of  Northern  Virginia.  The 
gallant  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  there  to  witness  the 
humiliation  of  its  old  enemy. 

All  over  the  land  cannon  roared,  bells  pealed,  bonfires 
blazed,  and  all  the  people  shouted  "  Glory,  Hallelujah," 
as  the  military  power  of  the  Rebellion  crumbled  and  fell. 
Firmly  had  it  stood,  defying  freedom,  justice,  and  hu- 
manity ;  it  drooped  and  expired  almost  in  the  twinkling 
of  an  eye. 

The  nation  was  filled  with  joy.  Soldiers,  sailors,  and 
civilians  rejoiced  together,  and  from  the  hearts  of  all  rose 
the  psean  of  thanksgiving  for  the  victory  which  had 
crowned  our  arms.  Then,  in  the  midst  of  the  people's 
gladness,  came  the  terrible  shock  of  the  assassination  of 
the  nation's  ruler  —  of  the  wise,  noble,  and  good  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  ;  and  the  redeemed  Union  was  shrouded  in 


THE   FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF    OFFICER.  319 

mourning  for  hira,  who  fell  just  as  lie  rose  to  the  glory  of 
Uhe  mighty  M'ork  he  had  accomplished. 

The  ^^•a^  was  virtually  ended.  The  surrender  of  Lee 
was  followed  by  that  of  Johnston,  and  others  in  command 
of  portions  of  the  rebel  army.  The  regiment  to  which 
ISIajor  Somers  belonged  was  ordered  to  garrison  a  post ; 
and  De  Banyan,  who  was  attached  to  the  same  regiment, 
but  for  brave  and  skilful  conduct  in  one  of  Sheridan's 
mighty  charges,  had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieu- 
tenant colonel,  also  joined  the  command  when  his  brigade 
was  dissolved. 

"  General  De  Banyan,  we  meet  again  !  "  exclaimed 
Somers,  as  they  joined  hands,  after  several  months  of 
separation. 

'•  Glory,  Hallelujah  !  "  shouted  the  general.  "  The 
war  is  over  !  The  Union  is  saved  !*  Rebellion  is  forever 
crushed  !  Somers,  my  dear  fellow,  I  would  hug  you  if  it 
were  dignified  for  a  lieutenant  colonel  to  do  such  a 
thing." 

"  Never  mind  your  dignity,  general.  I  feel  like  being 
silly,  now  that  '  this  cruel  war  is  over.'  I  am  delighted 
to  see  you.  Do  you  remember  Columbia?  Do  you  re- 
member the  blood-hounds  ?  " 

"  Shall  I  ever  forget  them?"  replied  De  Banyan,  feel- 
ingly. 

"  Do  you  remember  that  night  when  we  reached  the 
Augusta  road  ?  " 


320  FIGHTING   JOE,    OR 

"  I  could  not  forget  that  any  more  than  I  could  forget 
you,"  answered  the  general,  as  he  again  wrung  the  hand 
of  his  devoted  friend.  *'  Somers,  our  country  is  saved. 
We  have  foui^ht  it  throunrh  to  the  end." 

"  We  have  had  a  hard  time  of  it.  Do  you  suppose, 
De  Banyan,  if  it  Avere  to  be  done  over  again,  you  would  be 
willing  to  go  through  with  it  once  more  ?  "  asked  Somers. 

*'  Upon  my  soul,  I  should ! "  replied  the  general, 
warmly.  "  If  I  knew  I  had  to  die  on  the  cold,  wet 
ground,  by  the  side  of  the  Augusta  road,  after  three 
years  of  hard  service,  I  would  go  in  as  cheerfully  as  I 
would  eat  my  dinner  when  I  am  hungry.  Somers,  if 
there  is  any  man  that  loves  his  country^  I  do.  I  am 
willing  to  fight  for  her,  and  willing  to  die  for  her.  This 
was  a  most  infernal  rebellion,  and  I  thank  God  I  have 
lived  to  see  the  end  of  it." 

"  So  do  I,"  responded  Somers,  fervently. 

With  the  end  of  the  war  ends  our  story,  though  a 
few  months  later,  an  interesting  event  occurred  in  Boston, 
which  we  have  not  the  heart  to  withhold  from  our  read- 
ers, who  have  patiently  followed  our  hero  through  his 
career  of  duty  and  suffering.  As  they  have  seen  him 
in  the  carnage  of  battle,  in  the  toils  of  the  foe,  in  the 
loathsome  prison  camps  of  the  rebels,  so  should  they  now 
see  him  in  the  hour  of  his  greatest  earthly  joy.  The 
event  to  which  we  allude  was  chronicled  in  the  papers  of 
the  city  as  follows :  — 


THE    FORTUNES    OF  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  321 

*'  December  7,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. ,  Major  Thomas 

Somers,  of  the  — th  United  States  Infantry,  to  Miss  Lil- 
ian Ashford,  daughter  of  Richard  C.  Ashford,  Esq.,  of 
this  city.      (No  Cards.)" 

^o.  —  Rutkxnd  Street  was  brilliantly  illuminated,  as 
the  stars  broke  forth  from  the  storm  clouds  of  that  snowy 
Thanksgiving  evening.  There  was  a  select  assemblage 
of  gentlemen,  civil  and  military,  and  of  ladies,  young 
and  old,  from  the  matrons  in  sober  black,  to  the  maid- 
ens decked  in  colors  appropriate  to  the  joyous  occasion. 
"  Fighting  Joe  "  had  been  cordially  invited,  but  a  severe 
illness  alone  prevented  his  attendance. 

Half  an  hour  before  the  time  appointed  for  the  cere- 
mony, a  carriage  stopped  at  the  door,  from  which 
stepped  a  tall  gentleman,  dressed  in  an  elegant  new 
uniform,  on  the  shoulder-straps  of  which  glistened  the 
silver  leaves  that  indicated  his  rank.  With  nervous 
energy  he  dashed  up  the  steps,  and  endangered  the  bell 
Avire  by  the  desperate  pull  he  gave.  His  summons  was 
promptly  answered  by  a  colored  gentleman  in  white 
cotton  gloves. 

"  Major  Somers,"  said  the  gentleman,  sententiously. 

"  The  major  is  engaged  just  now,  sir,  and  cannot  be 
seen,"  replied  the  waiter. 

"  Can't  be  seen  !  "  exclaimed  the  arrival. 

•'  Not  just  now,  sir.     Walk  in,  if  you  please,  sir." 

*'  Tell  him  Colonel  De  Banyan  is  here  ;  and  if  that 
don't  fetch  him,  say  '  Maircnta  '  to  liim." 


322  FIGHTING   JOE,    OB 

The  waiter  went  up  stairs  to  the  front  room,  where  the 
bride  and  groom  and  their  more  intimate  friends  were 
assembled. 

"  Colonel  De  i^anyan,  from  Magenta,  sir,  is  —  " 

"  From  where  ? "  roared  Somers,  jumping  from  his 
chair,  so  thoroughly  convulsed  with  laughter  that  the 
buttons  on  his  new  coat  threatened  to  be  wrenched  from 
their  proper  spheres.  "  Show  him  up,"  added  he,  when 
he  could  speak  the  words. 

"  My  dear  Somers,  I  am  with  you  once  again,"  said 
the  colonel,  as  he  rushed  into  the  room  and  seized  his 
friend  by  both  hands.  "From  the  deepest  depths  of  an 
honest  heart  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  approaching 
happiness." 

"  Thank  you,  general.  I  am  delighted  to  see  you," 
replied  Somers.  "  It  needed  only  your  presence  to  com- 
plete my  happiness." 

"  Mrs.  Somers,  I  greet  you,"  continued  the  colonel, 
dashing  towards  the  old  lady,  and  saluting  her  with  the 
most  courtly  elegance. 

"  Sakes  alive  !  "  exclaimed  the  happy  matron.  "  If  it 
ain't  Captain  de  Bangyang." 

"  Colonel  de  Banyan,  if  you  please,  is  my  present 
appellation ;  though  I  am  sometimes  called  General  de 
Banyan.     I  trust  you  are  quite  well,  madam." 

"  Well,  I'm  pretty  toler'ble,  I  thank  ye.  General  de 
Bang —  Well,  I'm  —  I  declare,  I'm  so  flustrated  I 
can't  speak  a  word  to-night." 


THE  FORTUNES   OP  A    STAFF   OFFICER.  323 

"  Madam,  you  are  the  proud  and  happy  mother  of  the 
noblest  young  man  in  this  noble  republic,"  said  tlie 
colonel,  magnificently. 

"  Excuse  me,  De  Banyan,  Kut  there  is  a  lady  her& 
who  has  long  desired  to  make  your  acquaintance,"  in- 
terposed Somers,  as  he  led  his  friend  to  another  part  of 
the  room,  where  Lilian  sat,  blushing  and  beautiful. 

"  Lilian,  this  is  my  friend,  General  de  Banyan.  Gen- 
eral, Miss  Ashford." 

"  Miss  Ashford,"  said  the  general,  with  a  dignified 
bow,  as  he  took  the  gloved  hand  that  was  extended  to 
him,  "  I  bend  in  homage  before  one  who  is  'mighty 
enough  in  her  beauty  and  her  virtues  to  win  the  heart  of 
my  friend  Major  Somers," 

Lilian  blushed  deeper  than  ever  as  she  expressed  her 
pleasure  at  meeting  the  man  who  had  shared  the  toils 
and  the  sufferings  of  her  intended  husband. 

"  Miss  Ashford,  I  have  long  known  you,  though  we 
now  meet  for  the  first  time  ;  but  permit  me  to  add,  that 
my  friend  is  the  only  man  in  the  United  States  who  is 
worthy  of  the  hand  which  is  so  soon  to  be  his,"  added 
De  Banyan,  who  was  clearly  in  a  "magnificent"  mood 
on  this  occasion. 

'*  I  am  afraid  I  shaU  be  jealous  of  you,  general," 
laughed    Lilian. 

"'  Nay,  the  major's  heart  is  big  enough  to  hold  us  all, 


324  FIGHTING    JOE,    OR 

Miss  Ashford,"  continued  De  Banyan,  still  holding  the 
little  hand.  "  I  pray  to  God  that  he  may  never  be 
called  upon  to  do  as  much  for  you  as  he  has  done  for 
me.  When  you  sink  down  to  die  upon  the  cold,  wet 
ground  in  winter,  exhausted  by  sickness,  borne  under  by 
starvation,  with  the  savage  blood-hounds  baying  in  the 
distance,  and  more  savage  rebels  lying  in  wait  for  you  ; 
when  you  lie  down  to  die  under  these  awful  conditions, 
and  he  "  —  pointing  to  the  major  —  "  steps  between  you 
and  the  quaking  messenger  of  death,  who  already  has  a 
gripe  upon  you ;  when  he,  at  the  imminent  peril  of  his 
life,  procures  food  and  clothing  to  restore  you ;  when  he 
has  stood  over  you  like  an  angel,  and  won  back  the 
breath  of  life  to  your  feeble  body ;  when  he  has  done 
this  for  you,  you  will  know  him  as  I  know  him." 

As  he  finished,  a  great  tear  slid  down  each  side  of  his 
bronzed  face ;  but  he  dashed  it  away,  and  smiled  again. 
Lilian  pressed  the  great  hand  she  held,  and  a  tear 
burned  among  the  roses  of  her  bright  cheek. 

"  But  all  this,  and  mpre,  has  he  done  for  me ! "  ex- 
claimed Somers,  pointing  to  the  colonel.  "  When  I  was 
wounded  and  helpless  —  " 

*'  Upon  my  word,  we  are  getting  sentimental,  major ; 
and  we  had  better  subside,"  interposed  the  colonel. 
"  Introduce  me  to  the  rest  of  the  people." 

Somers  complied ;  and  to  each  De  Banyan  made  one 


V 

Tin:    FORTUXES    OF   A    STAFF   OFFICER.  325 

of  his  characteristic  speeches ;  and  perhaps  he  would 
have  been  voted  ridiculous,  if  his  eloquence  had  not  a 
moment  before  started  the  tears  of  more  than  half  the 
persons  in  the  room. 

Among  those  present  was  John  Somers,  the  major's 
twin  brother,  who  had  come  home  to  participate  in  this 
festive  scene.  On  his  arm  was  a  beautiful  young  lady ; 
but  who  and  what  she  was,  we  must,  for  prudential 
reasons,  decline  to  explain  in  this  volume. 

The  clergyman  came ;  the  ceremony  was  performed, 
and  the  interesting  incidents  which  follow  it  were  duly 
and  properly  disposed  of ;  and  never  was  a  happy  couple 
more  sincerely  congratulated. 

"  Mrs.  Somers,  permit  me  to  express  my  warmest 
hopes  for  your  future  happiness,"  said  De  Banyan. 
"  May  your  husband  be  to  you  all  that  he  has  been  to 
me ;  he  can  be  no  more  ;  he  will  be  no  less." 

There  was  nothing  to  mar  the  harmony  of  the  occa- 
sion. Grandmother  Ashford  mercifully  permitted  the 
heroes  of  rtie  "  last  war "  to  rest  in  their  honored 
graves ;  and  all  gave  a  hearty  God-speed  to  the  happy 
couple,  as  they  twain  set  out  on  the  blissful  journey  of 
wedlock. 

Major  Somers  is  a  man  of  good  motives,  and  of  high 
Christian  principles,  won  in  the  day  of  trial  and  suffer- 
28 


326  FIOHTINO   JOB. 

ing,  no  less  than  in  prosperity :  and  we  doubt  not  he 
will  be  as  tnie  to  his  God,  his  country,  and  himself,  in 
the  future,  as  he  has  been  in  the  past ;  when,  by  his 
fidelity,  his  bravery,  and  his  patriotism,  he  carved  out 
his  fortunes  on  the  battle-fields  of  The  Great  Rebellion. 


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